Abe Okpik hall re-opens to public
After a nine-month long closure and $110,000 in renovations, Abe Okpik hall in Apex has re-opened to the public. The City of Iqaluit is hosting an open house at the centre on Friday, May 17, at 5:30 p.m., when the public can tour the new facility and enjoy country food, bannock and tea. At 6:45 p.m., the city’s recreation staff will host a movie night for youth aged six-12 years. (Photo by Sarah Rogers)
Eliya Pudluk’s fathers name was Jamessie, first to live in Apex when he was working for the Hudson’s Bay Company. We used our E-7 numbers that time. Eliya and him would be building a bridge with their own hands in Apex river to the Hudson’s Bay store. Both also shoveled the road way to the store as they were living across the river. The had a Qammaq right were Alice Joamie lives now. On Sundays, he would hold on to my mothers back as they were walking because he was blind so he would Preach to the people in the Village of Iqaluit. Why not name that building in honor of him. They were real Apex and Iqaluit people. I remember in late 1950’s when Abe help legalized alcohol so people can drink freely.