Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Repulse Bay (Jan 11/06) - An old group of friends provided students at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay with a little extra Christmas cheer again this year.

Members of the Edmonton Lions Club have been adding a little extra sparkle to Christmas in Repulse for more than a decade.

Santa received plenty of help from honourary Repulse elves Devin Aviugana and Darrick Kaunak, and helpers Celestino Kopak and Jolene Itkilik, front right, while handing out presents at Tusarvik school this past month. - photo courtesy of Leonie Aissaoui

There were some anxious moments this year when the clock struck noon on the final day of school and there was still no sign of the club's annual holiday package.

The school closed for the holidays, and all the kids could do was hope.

They didn't have long to worry, however, when all the boxes were accounted for by the end of the week.

Principal Leonie Aissaoui felt a wave of relief and happiness when the boxes arrived.

She says the kids eagerly anticipate the gifts the Edmonton Lions Club sends every year.

"The students at Tusarvik school have been receiving Christmas gifts from the Edmonton Lions Club for 11 years now and I hope their generosity will continue after I retire," says Aissaoui.

"The Lions Club sent a special gift to me this year, which was a very pleasant surprise.

"They sent me a beautiful blanket with my favourite animals (wolves) on it to keep me warm in winter."

Along with the Christmas gifts, the Lions Club sent a number of boxes of footwear, which were given to the kids who needed them upon their return to school in the new year.

The school also received a large Christmas stocking full of toys to be raffled off during the community's Christmas concert.

The money from the raffle will be used for Tusarvik's exchange trip with students from Fergus, Ontario.

The Lions Club also sent a number of pairs of skates to students at Tusarvik who couldn't take part in the Saturday figure-skating lessons being given by teachers at the school because they didn't own their own skates.

"Receiving all that from the Lions Club sure helped brighten Christmas for us at the school.

"As soon as the weather permitted, we had the Grade 5 to 12 students in to receive their gifts, then we invited in the day-care children to Grade 4 students to meet Santa and receive their gifts, an orange and a candy cane.

"The kids had a great time and really appreciated their gifts."