Iqaluit Christmas games move to cadet hall
District education authority chairperson cites past damage to Nakasuk School for turning city away this year
Participants in Iqaluit’s 2023 Christmas games dance inside Nakasuk Elementary School’s gym. The 2024 games are moving to the cadet hall after organizers were unable to book the school. (File photo by Jason Sudlovenick, special to Nunatsiaq News)
Iqaluit’s Christmas games are set to return, but in a different venue due to concerns from the Iqaluit District Education Authority.
The games start Dec. 23 at the cadet hall. More games are planned for Dec. 24, 26, 27, 30 and 31, running from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day, followed by a New Year’s Day candy toss.
Former city councillor Joanasie Akumalik has been recruited by the city’s recreation department to help organize the events.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Akumalik acknowledged there have been “challenges.”
“We were scrambling a bit to find a new location,” he said.
The Iqaluit District Education Authority board rejected the city’s application to use Nakasuk Elementary School this year, where the games are usually held.
Alexina Kublu, the board’s interim chairperson, said Nakasuk’s principal expressed concern about damage to the building after recent years’ Christmas games.
“Two Christmases ago, I think it was, there was quite a lot of damage and that really disrupted the use of the school for learning purposes by the students,” Kublu said in an interview.
She said some of the school’s doors were damaged and required repairs. Also, children ran around the school unsupervised and as a result the school’s bathrooms and library needed more cleaning.
“When the students are out at Christmas, the janitorial staff are still on, are still working, and that is the time that they do extensive cleaning of the schools in preparation for the winter to start up again after Christmas,” Kublu said.
She said principals at the other three schools — Aqsarniit Middle School, Inuksuk High School and Joamie Ilinniarvik School — shared concerns about their buildings possibly being damaged too.
The city issued a news release Wednesday saying it was “disappointed” by the district education authority’s decision, adding it had tried to address the board’s safety and security concerns.
“We considered it very inappropriate and degrading for the city to do this,” Kublu said in response to the news release, adding the city should have simply announced the venue change.
She said Iqaluit needs a community hall that can be used for Christmas games — something other communities have.
Akumalik, at Tuesday’s council meeting, also said the city should look at developing a community hall.
With a venue set for this year and sponsors for prizes being lined up, he said work is being done to make sure the games are safe with security, medical staff and volunteer cleaners on site.
“We are hoping for the best,” Akumalik said.
Mayor Solomon Awa and Coun. Kyle Sheppard were among the council members who shared their excitement and hopes to help the Christmas games be a success.
“Your efforts are really, really appreciated this year, so thank you very much,” Sheppard said.
dea is out to lunch, these are public buildings let the public use them for christmas games.
Mr. Awa is quoted in a CBC article when he was running to be Councillor that he wanted to “open up a place where we can host games”. In the years since, he has been elevated into the position of Mayor, but has there been any movement on this goal? I think the city’s PSA is a misguided attempt to assign blame for a decision that should have been a city initiative long ago since the lack of community space is not a new issue.
There are more important issues than building a community hall that the City needs to address first. In the mean time, local elected officials who run publicly funded buildings should consider working together. If the City tried to address their concerns yet were shut down, then we need to know what their issue is instead of them saying “it was inappropriate and degrading.”
There is definitely something more going on between these two parties.
Where are the parents? Parents should be responsible for their children a shame the damage done by unsupervised kids.
It’s downright disingenuous, pandering and weird that a reporter should single out a councillor for praise and recognition on a regular basis
So are we getting a Community Hall like all the smaller Communities have? Would be nice to have for such occasions