Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, January 9, 2008

REPULSE BAY - At a time when Christians are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Edmonton Lions Club is becoming a patron saint, of sorts, to youth in Repulse Bay.

The club has been sending Christmas gifts to children in Repulse for 15 years, in addition to donating a modest amount of cash to help out with sports programs.

Mark Kirk Kringuk receives his Edmonton Lions Club Christmas gift from Santa Claus in Repulse Bay this past month. - photos courtesy of Leonie Aissaoui

The City of Champions organization also awards two annual $1,000 scholarships to graduates of Tusarvik school who continue on to college or university.

The Edmonton Lions Club started to become a benefactor to Repulse youth when Tusarvik principal Leonie Aissaoui moved to the community 15 years ago.

The club had sponsored a similar program in Aissaoui's former community, Fort Good Hope, NWT, and she asked club president Rick Jackman if the Lions could extend their generosity to the East after her move to Repulse.

Aissaoui said at that time, the Lions Club was asked if it could send gifts to the kids who attended school and the members said they would be happy to help.

She said the gifts came for the next 13 years for kids who attended school and then, out of the blue in 2006, the club wanted to know how many babies were in Repulse and gifts were sent for those kids as well.

"That continued this year, so, as I was getting ready to send our list of names in this past September, I asked the health centre how many babies were expected to be born in town by Dec. 25," said Aissaoui.

"I included them in my list and we received a bunch of gifts with no names on them for the newborns.

"The rest of the gifts came with the name of the child it was intended for right on it.

"We had something for every child in town who we knew of."

Santa delivered 186 gifts to the community's youngest members, and another 200 were given to students at Tusarvik school.

Aissaoui said two teachers, a group of students and an RCMP officer helped out with Santa's visit.

"The club made a mistake this year and sent the kindergarten kids double gifts, so we're going to keep them at the school and use them for games the teachers hold during the year that require prizes.

"I don't know what words to use to express our gratitude to the Edmonton Lions Club.

"They've done so much for the children of Repulse Bay and our graduates who carry on with their education.

"The community appreciates all they do for us."