Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Nov 28/01) - Despite having only a few kilometres of road, Baker Lake is firmly on the information superhighway, courtesy of its own Web site.

The recently established bakerlake.org is picking up hits from as far away as Norway, according to Dave Webster.

People the world over can now learn everything they wanted to know about Baker Lake through the hamlet's new Web site. Hits are coming in from as far away as Norway.

With a regular weather report from the hamlet, plus population figures, photos and information on the community's heritage, bakerlake.org is a treasure trove of local lore.

The Web site's guestbook has entries all the way from Vancouver to Glace Bay, Nfld.

"Very nicely done," reads one guestbook entry from Goose Bay, Nfld. "The beauty of the area leaves an indelible impression on one's soul, as does the warmth of the people there."

Webster, a former hamlet councillor and manager of the Inuit Heritage Centre, happened upon the idea of a Web site while brainstorming ways to spark outside interest in the community.

"I thought a Web site could help the community benefit from tourism," said Webster.

He then compiled a variety of useful tidbits of information, plus photographs of the community. He bundled the whole lot up and sent it to Outcrop communications in Yellowknife.

The rest, as they say, is history.

"We just recently had a message from someone in Copenhagen asking us to put up more pictures of the community," said Webster.

Whether the site will create a stampede of tourists in Baker Lake is unclear. Still, Webster's seen one direct benefit.

"I've been getting letters in the mail for books that we sell at the Heritage Centre," he said.