Iqaluit (Apr 26/04) - Awards are the last thing on these volunteers' minds.

But a pat on the back and a thank you from the Premier of the territory and invited guests was a pleasant surprise for three individuals and one group of volunteers in Iqaluit on Thursday.

Nunavut Volunteer Award recipients were Joanasie Benjamin Arreak from Pond Inlet who won the Elder award for his long-standing work with the Anglican Church, and the youth of Nunavut; Carla Punshon of Rankin Inlet for her work with the Girl Guides of Canada; Helena Wortman of Cape Dorset received the Youth Award for leadership; and the 2003 Iqaluit Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention Conference planning committee received the Group award.

"This is pretty exciting for me," said Punshon.

Punshon, 32, has been involved with the Girl Guides since she was a Brownie, which has now added up to an impressive 25 years.

"There are so many people I work with," she added, deflecting the full attention of the award away from herself. "I couldn't have done it by myself."

Sheila Levy invited as many volunteers who were involved with the suicide prevention conference as she could to the gathering in the Husky Room at the Frobisher Inn on Thursday.

"I wanted everyone to be here," she said. "It's nice to have recognition for the group, the time and effort put into a conference like this is tremendous. It is truly a conference that came from the heart."