Nunavummiut prepare to party on Canada’s birthday

Iqaluit firefighters take the maple leaf flag off a fire truck after the chili handout they organized for Canada Day, last year in front of Nakasuk Elementary School. (FIle photo by Arty Sarkisian)

As Canada turns 158 years old on Tuesday, communities across Nunavut are marking the occasion with parades, games and barbecues. Here are some Canada Day events people can participate in.

Pangnirtung — Organizers have prizes left over from last month’s rainy National Indigenous Peoples Day events to make Canada Day an extra-big celebration this year, said the hamlet’s recreation co-ordinator Alejandro Pena-Morales.

“A lot of people seem interested. We put up posters and people are pretty excited,” he said.

The day begins with a 10:15 a.m. flag raising, accompanied by a church choir singing O Canada. The parade starts in front of the Northern Store at 11 a.m., followed by a barbecue at 1 p.m.

The afternoon is packed with games from 1:30 to 4 p.m. including a vehicle-decorating contest at 2 p.m., bike races at 3 p.m. and cake decorating at 4 p.m. There’s a community picnic at 5 p.m., and a candy-throw Tuesday night.

Rankin Inlet — Festivities begin at noon in front of the firehall to kick off the hamlet’s annual Canada Day parade. A barbecue with games and refreshments follows at 1 p.m.

Bike races for kids ages 12 and under and 13 and older are scheduled for 1:45 p.m. and 2 p.m., with prizes for the top five participants in each age category.

Styrofoam and cardboard boat races run from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m. at Williamson Lake. Raffle draws and contests go all afternoon, capped with a target-shooting contest at 5 p.m.

As the finale, a square dance is planned in the old arena at 9 p.m.

Naujaat — A noon-hour barbecue gets Canada Day rolling. Children who decorate their bicycles will vie for more than $700 in prizes at 3 p.m., while adults participate in a Honda decorating contest. Indoor games will be held at 8 p.m.

Festivities continue all day Wednesday and Thursday as part of the community’s Hamlet Day events.

Baker Lake — A busy slate of events at the community hall begins with a parade at noon. After that, a barbecue with games and other events is planned throughout the afternoon.

Iqaluit — Canada Day in Iqaluit begins early with a free pancake breakfast hosted by the city in the Arctic Winter Games arena from 9 to 11:30 a.m. or until the pancakes run out.

Meanwhile, children are invited to play on the arena’s indoor field until noon, with a bike-decorating contest held outside from 10 until 11:30 a.m.

Noon is parade time, ending with a mini-concert, bouncy castle and face-painting offered at Nakasuk School.

Iqaluit firefighters are typically in the business of putting out fires, but they’ll heat up Canada Day with their annual homemade chilli handout from 1 until 2 p.m. at the school.