Panniqtuuq (Dec 20/04) - Residents voted to keep the community's English name, Pangnirtung.

Unofficially, the result was 201 to 153 to keep the name.

The plebiscite was held after a motion was made in hamlet council to correct the name from Pangnirtung to Panniqtuuq, which some residents see as the result of a bad translation.

Newly-elected mayor Jack Maniapik said part of the reason people rejected the change is because Pangnirtung is internationally recognized through Auyuittuq National Park.

"With a new spelling, people might think it's a different community than Pangnirtung," he said.

Every year, hikers from around the world visit the community.

The community's Inuktitut name will remain as Panniqtuuq.

23 candidates, 5 seats

Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven

After two years of poor participation in terms of the number of candidates for hamlet council, members of the community campaigned to get more people nominated.

Through local radio, along with other promotion methods, the number of candidates ballooned to 23.

"I think a lot of people are interested and they care about the community and they want to be a part of the community," said senior administrative officer Raymond Kamookak.

A mix of young and old candidates were on the ballot this year.

But with only five seats available, none of the younger candidates earned a seat on the council.

Surprise in Pond Inlet

Incumbent mayor Peter Aglak's loss by a large margin to newly-elected David Q. Qamaniq came as a surprise to some members of the community.

Qamaniq received 158 votes, while Aglak garnered only 66.

During Aglak's three-year term, the hamlet was pulled out of $1 million in debt, received a new health centre and has a new airport terminal on the way, said senior administrative officer Lori Nash.

"It's frustrating that those types of accomplishments weren't well received," Nash said.

Qamaniq was not available for comment before deadline.

Close call

Kugluktuk/Coppermine

After the initial mayoral vote totals put Ernie Bernhardt behind by one vote 67-66, he made a request for a recount.

The next morning, he and Peter Taptuna had switched places, with Bernhardt now ahead by the same one vote, 67-66.

Bernhardt almost withdrew from the election two Saturdays prior, but that same morning, he says his phone was ringing off the hook with supporters urging him to stay in the race.

"I told myself then, that I might as well run."

Despite the loss, Taptuna managed to win a seat as a hamlet councillor.

Participation

Tikirarjuaq/Whale Cove

Whale Cove may be small, but with 74 per cent of eligible voters making it to the polls, it had the highest voter participation rate in the territory.

All of the Kivalliq communities, with the exception of Rankin Inlet, had more than 50 per cent of eligible voters turn out.

Of the six Kitikmeot communities, only Kugaaruk at 50 per cent, handed in voter turnout numbers.

Only five of the 12 Baffin communities reported their voter turnout. None except Hall Beach, at 63 per cent, posted numbers above 50 per cent.

Friends and family

Panniqtuuq

Pangnirtung's new mayor, Jack Maniapik, was looking over the election results when he realized that he knew many of the territory's new mayors.

Pond Inlet's new mayor, David Qamaniq, is a good friend of his. Joe Arlooktoo, who was acclaimed in Kimmirut, is his brother-in-law.

In all, Maniapik is on a first-name basis with five of Nunavut's 13 newly- and re-elected mayors.

"We know each other pretty well so hopefully we'll work together and make Nunavut's communities a better place to live," Maniapik said.

Hezekiah Oshutapik did not seek re-election.

The community's SAO says Oshutapik plans to spend more time with his plumbing business.