Cambridge Bay plans hero’s welcome for hometown wrestling champ

Cambridge Bay is getting festive Monday to welcome Eekeeluak Avalak home.

The 18-year-old wrestler earned Team Nunavut its first-ever gold medal at the Canada Summer Games last week in St. Catharines, Ont.

The municipality is planning a number of events to celebrate the arrival of Avalak, his coaches and teammates, including a parade, feast, fireworks, drum dance and an autograph opportunity with the athlete.

All of the events are listed as tentative, states a public service announcement from the municipality that was posted to its Facebook page Aug.12.

Avalak and his team’s flight is scheduled to land in Cambridge Bay at noon local time, and the municipality is providing rides to those who are interested in greeting the team when they land. Those who need rides are can meet at Luke Novoligak Commuity Hall at 11 a.m.

“There will be multiple rides to/from the airport,” states the announcement.

Army cadets will then lead the group back from the airport, and a parade will start from the community hall. The route is posted on the Municipality of Cambridge Bay Facebook page. There will also be an opportunity to take a picture with Avalak and get his autograph.

Then, starting at 5 p.m., the municipality has organized drum dancing, square dancing, and a feast at the community hall. There are fireworks planned for later in the evening.

There is also a Nunavut flag at the community hall for people to sign. It will be given to Avalak as a gift, states an updated announcement from the municipality.

Updates will be shared on local radio and on the municipality’s Facebook page.

While wrestling and beach volleyball competitions wrapped up at the Canada Summer Games last week, Nunavut’s indoor volleyball team is in action this week.