CHESTERFIELD INLET - A popular kayak program at Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet will be taking a hiatus this coming school year.

Karen Aggark sews a kayak's bow plate at Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet in June of 2011. - photo courtesy of Glen Brocklebank

The program, which began in 2004, was denied GN funding this year, and the school will take the time to try and find alternate funding sources to get the kayaks back on the water.

Teacher Glen Brocklebank was instrumental in starting the program, and he's also taking a year's absence from the school to be the adult educator for Nunavut Arctic College in Chester.

Brocklebank said a number of kayaks built in the early years were beginning to show their age, with material starting to deteriorate and some of the ribs becoming cracked or broken.

He said some of the other boats weren't in as bad condition, but still needed to be repaired.

"The boats are used heavily for about three weeks every year, which includes being dragged over some pretty rough surfaces when we portage on some of our trips," said Brocklebank.

"This past year, especially, we had some huge portages which led to the material cracking, a number of ribs breaking and some gunnel problems.

"They needed to go to dry dock, so we finished the year by building four new ones to replace some of the oldest generation and we recovered five others.

"It was amazing to, once again, watch the kids work and see the skills they've developed while taking part in this program."

Brocklebank said five boats were too badly damaged for repair, so they were taken out of the rotation.

He said the four new additions leaves a fleet of 22 kayaks in place at the school.

"JJ Nimiqtaq was our first special-needs student to actually be in the boats this year.

"He did an outstanding job and the decision was made to retire the kayak he used.

"It will now hang in the school as a reminder of JJ's involvement and the great job he did.

"He's leaving to go to Gjoa Haven and everyone wanted to leave the kayak there as a reminder of JJ."

Brocklebank said this was the first year the kayak program had its funding

proposal rejected.

He said the program was never registered as a non-profit society and, to the best of his understanding, that's why the sport and recreation division of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth denied its funding proposal this year.

"The decision was disappointing because of how much the kids who take part in this program really enjoy it.

"It was a lot of work during the past six or seven years, but it was worth every minute.

"It was just an incredible and fantastic experience to be involved with.

"Watching kids paddle around like a pro and not want to leave the boat -- who started out deathly afraid of the water -- was a remarkable feeling."

Brocklebank said Grade 7 and Grade 8 students were allowed to help build the kayaks for the first time this year.

He said the program has always been for students in Grade 9 to Grade 12, but he wanted to involve as many kids as possible this year due to the uncertainty surrounding its future.

"With 22 kayaks we're not going to have to build any more in the foreseeable future, so that's why we let the younger students build with us.

"The only real downer was when the Grade 8 students started talking about how excited they were about starting to paddle next year, and having to tell them it's not going to happen.

"Seeing the disappointment on their faces was tough.

"This has been a massive project and, over the years, I couldn't be more proud of the school and our kids for undertaking it with so much conviction and dedication."

Brocklebank said although the school still hasn't completed its staff hiring for next year, you can't use just anybody willing to volunteer their time to run the program.

He said anyone considering getting involved in the coming year would need a lot of kayaking experience and comfort in running the program.

"Not everybody's comfortable in taking students out on the water, let alone to places they've never been before or actually out on the ocean.

"As I see it right now, hopefully, the program is just going into hibernation for a year and not being totally shut down.

"We'll either do the dance to try and access the funding we've received in the past, or work hard to seek out new avenues of funding.

"I'm, personally, not ready for this to be the final chapter, and many of the kids aren't ready for it to be the final chapter either."