RANKIN INLET/BAKER LAKE - The hamlets of Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet hosted their annual spring festival celebrations earlier this month.

The Pakallak Tyme festival is always eagerly anticipated in Rankin, and this year was no exception.

Josephine Oklaga strains to maintain the airplane during Hamlet Days in Baker Lake earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Gabriel Jacques

Rankin recreation director David Clark said this year's celebration went extremely well.

He said the annual event helps people get over the winter blues and into a better frame of mind as the warmer weather approaches.

"You're always going to have a few hiccups when you're running as many events as we do at Pakallak Tyme, but, overall, everything went quite well for us," said Clark.

"Not every event went as smoothly as we would have liked. But, I'd have to say this was the best Pakallak Tyme that I've been part of."

Clark said the hamlet received good volunteer support for this year's celebrations.

He said the events were well planned and none suffered from a lack of hands.

"I have a big meeting every year about a month before Pakallak Tyme is scheduled to begin.

"We use it to try and get as many people out and involved in the activities as possible.

"It's nice when you see people come to the meeting who really want to be involved and help out with the events."

Clark said his job was made easier this year by having an active hamlet recreation committee in place.

He said the committee members were involved with Pakallak Tyme almost every step of the way.

"It was really nice to have the committee involved to the level it was this year.

"We had a few meetings beforehand, and I asked each person on the rec committee to select an event they would take care of with me there to support it.

"They agreed to do that and it was a big help for me, and the events themselves, so it all went really well.

"I also can't thank the people in the racing and dog-mushing groups enough for the work they put in to run their own events, which are big attractions."

Clark said Pakallak Tyme offered something for everybody in the community.

He said there was only one area that needs to be better planned for next year.

"The school calendar worked well with everything in 2009, but I was a bit disappointed in the way it went this year.

"Unlike this past year, the kids were in school this time around.

"So, it wasn't possible to plan activities for the kids during the day.

"We'll do what we can to have the Pakallak Tyme and school schedules line up for next year."

The Baker Lake celebrations ran six days this year, beginning May 3 and wrapping up on May 8.

Baker rec director Leo Lareau said this year's activities attracted one of the biggest turnouts in recent memory.

He said the hamlet takes great care in its planning to ensure Hamlet Days offer something for everyone.

"We're the only Kivalliq hamlet, that I know of, to hold a special afternoon of games for those in our community who are physically challenged," said Lareau.

"They're usually well attended because we let our elders who use canes, or what not, to take part.

"It's not the type of thing where someone has to be in a wheelchair to take part, or anything like that.

"We look to get people out who might have a more difficult time getting around than others, that type of thing."

Lareau said schools were closed on the first day of the celebrations, allowing all the kids to take part in the biggest day of the week.

He said the hamlet had about the same number of volunteers as in previous years, and the events ran smoothly.

"We give cash prizes for all the games and activities we hold during the week.

"But we take all the items we receive from the business community, including airline tickets donated by Calm Air and Kivalliq Air, and hold a giant draw during our feast.

"Each person on our community list is given one free coupon and entered into the draw, so everyone has a chance at winning one of the prizes."

Lareau said it can be challenging to keep Hamlet Days feeling new every year. He said after a few people complained about the same old games in 2009, they changed the lineup a bit for this year's event.

"Our rec committee met two or three times and changed some of the things around, and it all went over well with the community.

"We had no complaints this year, so that's a good sign everyone was fairly happy."