New youth sports fund seeks support

One of Nunavut’s veteran volunteers is putting her energies into a new cause: Nunavut’s youth.

Marje Lalonde, 83, who worked tirelessly on behalf of the Nunavut Food Bank and many other charities, is now raising money for a new group devoted to helping young people take part in sports of all kinds.

It’s called the Nunavut Youth Sports Fund. Lalonde says its purpose is “to create healthy bodies and active minds in all 26 communities.”

The fund will also help young people attend the 2008 Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife.

The other members of the committee overseeing the fund are Brian Twerdin, Thomasie Alikatuktuk, Joe Kunuk, Lizzie Anaviapik, Wende Halonen, and Marilyn Neily.

Lalonde says the group has already received help from the Elks’ Club, the Francophone Association of Nunavut, the Anglican Northern Lights youth group, the Grind and Brew coffee shop, Canada Catering, Pai-Pa Taxi and the staff at the Baffin Regional Hospital’s cafeteria.

She said their next step is to conduct a logo contest, which is now open to young contestants.

Young people aged 13 to 16 who regularly attend a school in Nunavut are eligible to submit entries, which may be hand-drawn or made on a computer.

Logo contest entries may be sent to:

Nunavut Youth Sports Fund
Box 789
Iqaluit, NU
X0A 0H0

The deadline for the contest is April 27.

People who want to make donations to the fund may send cheques to the above address.

Lalonde says the winning logo will eventually be printed on hoodies that will be distributed to young people who are involved in sports throughout Nunavut.

The Nunavut Youth Sports Fund got a morale boost last week from Nancy Karetak-Lindell, the MP for Nunavut.

“In her eighties, the incredibly energetic Marje decided she would ensure that eligible Nunavut youth would be able to attend the 20th Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife in 2008 by setting up the Nunavut youth sports fund with other generous volunteers,” Karetak-Lindell said.

“Marje truly has made a significant contribution to life, not only in Nunavut, but in Canada. I thank her for all she has done.”