Preparations continue Wednesday for Friday’s arrival of Pope Francis at Nakasuk Elementary School in Iqaluit. Workers from NCC Development Ltd. erected a stage with lights and a fenced barrier at the front entrance to the school, where the Pope is expected to make a public address Friday afternoon after first privately meeting with Indigenous residential school survivors. Pope Francis is scheduled to travel to Quebec City on Wednesday, the second city on his tour after Edmonton, where he delivered an apology for the abuses that many Indigenous children experienced at Canada’s residential schools. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)
Workers from NCC Development Ltd. build a wooden wheelchair-accessible ramp outside Nakasuk Elementary School in Iqaluit early Monday. The temporary ramp is to accommodate Pope Francis when he arrives Friday to meet with survivors of the residential school system once run by the Catholic Church. It’s estimated 150,000 Indigenous children attended those schools during the 1800s up to the 1990s, many of whom suffered abuse there. Organizers of the papal visit say the 85-year-old pontiff will use a wheelchair during most of his Canadian visit due to his “advanced age and physical limitations.” In Iqaluit, Francis will also hold a public event Friday afternoon. (Photo by Madalyn Howitt)
Crystal Nutarak buys a roll of veggie sushi and rainbow cupcakes from Molleen Anaviapik at Pond Inlet’s flea market May 21. The flea market begins most Saturdays at 3 p.m. at the community hall while supplies last, which normally isn’t long. On this Saturday, Anaviapik sold out of her sushi, cupcakes and fruitcake in 10 minutes. (Photo by David Venn)
Winner of 500-km race will be announced during awards ceremony
Pond Inlet musher Lee Inuarak is hoisted in the air as he celebrates after finishing the 500-km Nunavut Quest in Igloolik Wednesday evening. Inuarak was the first musher out of a dozen to cross the finish line after 10 days of racing, followed by Igloolik’s Jonah Qaunaq. Inuarak, however, may not be the winner of the race. That will be announced Thursday during the awards ceremony. (Photo by Dustin Patar)
Two-year-old Constance Ettuk wanders through the middle of C Hall in Arctic Bay’s community centre the evening of April 16 while, from left , Leeta Qaunaq square dances with Jonah Qaunaq and George Satuqsi dances with Celina Satuqsi. (Photo by David Venn)
Iqaluit Deputy Mayor Solomon Awa, left, presents Kyle St. Laurent with the 2021 Coach of the Year award at city hall Tuesday evening for his work as a coach with the Nunavut Speed Skating Association. St. Laurent has been a member of the association for 29 years, Awa said, and has coached athletes for the Arctic and Canada Winter Games. (Photo by David Venn)
2 RCMP officers and 4 firefighters received lifesaver pins Monday
Fire Chief Steve McGean, left, presents firefighter Emily Galipo, Cst. Eric Noel, Capt. Solomon Tagak, Cst. Greg Beauchamp, and firefighters Lucas Manders and Eegeesiak Aniqmiuq with lifesaver pins on Monday at the Iqaluit fire hall. The emergency responders were awarded for applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and saving a resident’s life, said city spokesperson Aleksey Cameron. (Photo by Aleksey Cameron)
Veterinarians Without Borders tended to 89 animals in Kimmirut
Queen, a Kimmirut dog, gets an intravenous catheter prior to being spayed by vet technologist Wendy Kane (left) and Dr. Michelle Tuma (right) in Qaqqalik School’s shop on March 15. Tuma and Kane are part of Veterinarians Without Borders, an organization that partnered with the hamlet to offer free services in Kimmirut from March 14 to 17. Overall, the team saw 89 animals during its time in Kimmirut, and now, Kane and Tuma are in Qikiqtarjuaq until Tuesday to do the same thing. (Photo courtesy of Marieke Van Der Velden)
Nick Kingunkotok began as an apprentice oil burner mechanic in 1978
Nick Kingunkotok cuts a cake on March 11 at the Baker Lake Housing shop. Surrounded by family and colleagues, Kingunkotok celebrated his retirement after 44 years with the Bake Lake Housing Authority. He began in 1978 as an oil apprentice oil burner mechanic before moving to journeyman, and retiring this month as the housing authority’s maintenance manager. (Photo courtesy of Charles Eva)
Mika Simic, 11, kick-sleds on a sunny Sunday at the end of February when temperatures rose to about -25 C in Iqaluit — balmy, compared to weeks prior when temperatures fell to -40 C. (Photo by Jovan Simic)
Michael Irngaut and his nephew, Calvin Irngaut, caught 2 qamutiks full of Arctic char in 6 days
Igloolik residents had the chance to take home some Arctic char caught by Michael Irngaut Monday afternoon. The result of Irngaut’s six-day fishing trip with his nephew, Calvin Irngaut, was two qamutiks filled with more fish than Michael could count. He said he normally tries to do this trip once a year, sometimes twice if he doesn’t catch enough the first time. “I try to catch bigger so I won’t have to go back up,” he said, adding the distance to his fishing spot is more than 100 kilometres from town. “A lot of people came to pick up some fish. It was a good afternoon.” (Photo by Michael Irngaut)
Teams from the Koojesse Hockey League returned to play for the first time in more than 2 months
Qikiqtaaluk Properties Inc. forward Matt Norman (77) bears down on Northern Guardian goaltender Paul Dainton, right, while he plays the puck away from his net. Northern Guardian ended up beating QPI 10-2 in Iqaluit’s Arnaitok Arena Thursday evening. This was the Koojesse Hockey League’s first week back to gameplay since Dec. 22, when chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson implemented health restrictions due to a COVID-19 outbreak. (Photo by David Venn)
