Iqaluit (Dec 15/03) - Dec. 8 was a busy day for most hamlets across Nunavut.

Residents were going to the polls to cast their ballots in the hamlet council elections.

Almost every community was voting, except one. Gjoa Haven postponed their election because of a recent tragedy in the community.

A hunting trio was reported missing on Dec. 3 and found three days later. One of the men, Charlie Qirqqut, had died of exposure.

Because of the incident, the Gjoa Haven election was postponed until Dec. 15.

Mayor Peter Akkikugnaq said it wasn't easy to postpone the election but it was something that had to be done. The polls opened on Dec. 8, but nobody showed up.

"We had to get permission from Minister Peter Kilabuk," he said. "It took us all day to track him down. He personally signed the order to postpone the election."

Akkikugnaq said the whole community was affected by the search. When it was finished, nobody felt like voting, he said.

"Everyone knows everyone here," he said, "and election day is easy to replace. Nothing can replace a life."

"We would like to thank the minister. He understood what we were going through," said Akkikugnaq.