Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (May 27/05) - "This is a historic day," announced Mad Trapper house musician Mark Stevens to loud cheers from a packed bar. "It's the first Sunday ever that the Trapper has been open."

Bartender Alex Lennie serves up a cold one at the Mad Trapper Pub. Over the May long weekend, the pub opened its doors on a Sunday for the first time.

Since new NWT Liquor regulations came into effect April 1, bars in the territory are permitted to open six Sunday's a year, providing a permit is applied for two weeks in advance of the desired Sunday.

According to Mad Trapper manager Dave Rogers, business was brisk Sunday.

"I was curious myself as to how it would go but it was busier than Friday as far as sales," he said.

Bartender Alex Lennie agreed.

"I made $200 in tips Sunday," she said.

As for future Sunday openings, Rogers says a look at the calendar would be in order, however, "the Grey Cup, that's a given."

Marty Verbonac, vice-president of the Mackenzie Delta Hotel Group, which owns the Trapper, says certain factors have to be considered.

"We thought about (opening on Sunday) during the Muskrat Jamboree but those are really family events," he said. "So we decided not to sully them by opening up the bar."

Down the road at Frosty's Arctic Pub, the crowds were steady as patrons came to join in the farewell party for Edmonton rockers Gone By Dawn, who obviously made a lot of friends during their residency at the popular watering hole.

"It was a busy day here," said regular John Heenan of Frosty's Sunday crowd. "Lots of customers."

For Frosty's, it was the second Sunday this year that they were open.