ARVIAT - Another stage in Arviat tourism was completed earlier this month with a special session to introduce a group of tour operators to what the community has to offer.

Pauline Pemik, Mary Aajaq Anowtalik, Silas Illungiayok, Anita Iblauk, Ernie Eetak, Nancy Tasseor, Leo Mukyungnik, Cecilia Kriniksie and Elizabeth Nibgoarsie, back row from left, and Nuatie Suluk, Maria Illungiayok, Karen Panigoniak and Lois SulukLocke, front row from left, perform for a group of visiting tour operators in Arviat earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Mike Robbins

The Arviat Community Ecotourism (ACE) project welcomed Sue Grimwood (country director voyages for Steppes Travel in the United Kingdom), Thomas Lennartz (Arctic expedition manager for Arctic Kingdom in Toronto), Matthew BradleySwan (special project agent for Adventure Canada in Port Credit, Ont.), and Winnipeg's Stephanie Burke (manager guest experiences for Frontiers North Adventures) and Dennis Fast (photo tour leader for Churchill Wild).

Mike Robbins of The Tourism Company in Toronto is one of the leaders developing the ACE project.

Robbins said the Arviat community eco-tour was quite successful, despite the guests arriving a bit late due to travel problems.

He said the familiarization trip introduced tour operators to the Arviat experience in the hope they'll start to market and sell packages to the community.

"We want to work through tour operators so the community knows, in advance, when groups are coming, how many people to expect and what they're interested in doing," said Robbins.

"It's the way to start because it's all planned enough in advance for us to get everything organized in the community for the visitors."

The operators spent two nights on the land during their visit, but didn't get to see the caribou migration which is happening late this year due to abnormal weather conditions earlier this winter.

Robbins said missing the caribou migration actually turned out to be a good thing.

He said they'd never want that to happen with paying guests and learned from the experience.

"Now we know we have to include a charter plane in the package to fly small groups to a camp located near the herd, no matter where it is.

"The operators understood and still had an amazing experience staying in tents on the land and travelling by snowmobile and qamutiik with Inuit guides.

"The outfitting was done by Henik Lake Adventures and Ryan St. John did a very good job.

"Lead guide Jason Curley was in charge on the land and the operators loved him and the rest of the guides."

Robbins said the guests enjoyed staying at Arviat's Beach House, and the meals prepared by adult cook trainees and high school cooking students.

He said the operators also had a full day of cultural activity, including a community tour with commentary, a visit to a traditional camp, tea, bannock and storytelling with Mark and Angie Eetuk, carvers at the visitor's centre and a visit with biologist Mitch Campbell.

"Mitch explained why the caribou didn't co-operate this year and what they might expect in future years.

"The program also included a show by the cultural performance group Arviat Qaggiqtiiq (the people who gather to celebrate).

"We shared a meal with the performers and, later, everyone who wanted to could try their hand at drum dancing.

"Their ratings on a survey we gave them were 95 per cent good to excellent for every category, so, it was a very successful experience for everyone involved."

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