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Mayor Jerry Paniyuk, far left, and Deputy Mayor Marvin Dion, far right, organized a ride on the new Coral Harbour access trail for elders, from left, Natuk Paniyuk, Susie Angootealuk, Mark Paniyuk, back, Armond Angootealuk, Johnny Nakoolak, Joanasie Nakoolak and Peter Nakoolak, earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Hamlet of Coral Harbour

CORAL HARBOUR - Coral Harbour Mayor Jerry Paniyuk came up with a winning idea of taking a group of elders out for a ride along the community's new access trail earlier this month.

The mayor thought it would be a nice trip for the elders and something they'd be happy to take part in when he came up with the idea.

The 12 elders were picked up and driven out the access trail in two four-door hamlet pickup trucks.

Paniyuk said the trip covered about 140 kilometres and took a bit more than four hours to complete both ways.

"The elders never have the time or, for some, the means to go out for a ride during, pretty much, any time of the year," said Paniyuk.

"I thought this would be a good chance for them to enjoy a nice ride outside of the community and see the new access trail we've been working on.

"They were really impressed by the work that's been done on the trail, and they were surprised by how far out it goes.

"They enjoyed themselves and that made me happy because that was the whole purpose of the trip."

The elders also had a chance to visit the camp where the crew stays while working on the access trail.

The crew spent four straight weeks at the camp during the recent stretch of construction.

The camp is equipped to provide meals, sleeping quarters and shower and washroom facilities to the workers.

The construction of the 140-kilometre trail is a hamlet project, through funding provided by the territorial government.

Paniyuk said a number of the elders expressed their gratitude for being taken on the trip.

"They told me they weren't really expecting something like this, and how nice it was of the hamlet to take them out for a day.

"Two elders told me it was the best day they'd had in quite a while because they hadn't had the chance to go out on the land for a long time.

"They really appreciated it and the hamlet was happy to show them that our community still has respect for our elders."