Repulse Bay (Feb 17/03) - The community is finding ways to overcome a run of bad luck that began almost two months ago.

Residents were still in mourning over a death in the community when fire struck the hamlet office and complex, completely destroying the structure which also housed the post office, cable TV, radio and band equipment.

Since then, mechanical problems have disrupted the community's phone system and caused power interruptions.

Tusarvik school has become the centre of the community during the run of adversity.

The school gym was used to hold the Christmas games and dances and a small kitchen area now serves as a temporary post office.

Teacher Leonie Aissaoui says the school has also become the meeting place for hamlet council, housing and search and rescue.

"The community is doing its best to cope and the school has become very active in helping to keep our day-to-day activities running as smoothly as possible," says Aissaoui.

Repulse recreation co-ordinator Levi Katokra says some people may be surprised to learn just how little the fire affected his job.

"We're using the school gym for our programs and that's actually better than what we had in the complex," says Katokra.

"And we still have the arena, so it didn't really change anything for me as far as the actual sports go."

Katokra says the one area that has been seriously affected by the fire is bingo.

He says local fundraising has been hit hard by the loss. "We haven't had one bingo game in Repulse since the fire.