Inuvik (Aug 04/06) - Peter Westaway and his wife Balbir were in Inuvik last week visiting the community they left 20 years ago.

Peter took some time out from seeing old friends on Tuesday morning, to talk with the Drum about his impressions of a town he was once familiar with.

Peter and Balbir Westaway were recently back in Inuvik after being gone for the last 20 years. The couple were the co-ordinators for Ingamo Hall back in the early 80's. Peter shares some of his thoughts about Inuvik, Ingamo and how they've both changed over time. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

"The whole town has really changed for the better," said Westaway.

He said the most significant change is community groups are less segregated than they once were.

"Back in the early eighties, the town was separated, with government on one side, and aboriginal groups on the other," he said.

Westaway said the housing situation is a good sign of the aboriginal progression in the community.

"It's no longer separated, which is good for everyone."

Westaway and his wife arrived in Inuvik in 1980 when they responded to a friend's invitation to come north.

"We were living in Toronto and had just gotten married, when we got on that plane to come here," explained Westaway. "I remember looking around, and thinking that we just went from downtown Toronto to the farthest corner of the country."

The pair quickly got busy in the community. Peter became the executive director for Ingamo Hall, and Balbir became program co-ordinator.

"We started a lot of programs for the people here," said Westaway. A day care program was initiated, as well as other youth oriented events.

"The bingos were already popular with the older crowds, with maybe four per week," said Westaway.

"I noticed that bingos are no longer social events, they only happen on TV now."

Westaway remembered when the first after school drop-in program started.

"The bus would pull up right after 3:30, and kids would just pile out to come into the hall," he said.

Eventually, Westaway got his bus driver's ticket. He borrowed a vehicle to bring youth camping and on field trips around town.

In 1983, Westaway saw a need for more active programming for people in their mid-life.

"We didn't have anything for the middle-aged people," said Westaway, who noted there were many programs in place for youth and elders.

A softball team was started, which was dubbed the Ingamo Hall Adult Sports Club.

"Even though we were a sports club, we were really only about baseball," he said.

After being in charge of Ingamo Hall for five years, the pair left for Alberta with their new family, boys Noel and Nicholas.

"We hopped around in Alberta, living in different places," said Westaway.

"Now I'm in the process of retiring and our boys have grown up."

"This was a good trip here, a lot of memories and it was a good way to re-connect some wires of communication with old friends," said Westaway.