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REPULSE BAY
While in Repulse Bay earlier this month, Gov. Gen. David Johnston ran the Terry Fox Run alongside students of Tusarvik School and later, he and his wife, Sharon, presented the winners with T-shirts and medals.

Gov. Gen. David Johnston fit right in with the students at Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay when he visited on Aug. 18. - photo courtesy of Jennifer Perry

The first female student to cross the finish line was Doriana Malliki.

For the boys, it was Scottie Mapsalak. He said it was great to have the Governor General in Repulse Bay and in the race.

"The town felt so special because of him being here," he said. "Everything was great."

Johnston and his wife visited the community Aug. 18 as part of their official visit to Nunavut.

Marianne den Haan, a teacher at Tusarvik School, said it was amazing how much time the Johnstons devoted to the youth of Repulse Bay.

"It was all about the students," she said. "It was all about their stories and how unique the story is of these students and how they were able to showcase that to them."

To share their story, the students made a video highlighting some of the challenges they face and some of their worries about the future. The video also emphasized how proud they are of their community, territory and culture.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students to be able to meet someone who represents their country, who is extremely interested in the culture of our country, and to be able to showcase their culture to him and be so proud of it - it was such a wonderful thing to see," den Haan said. "It was such a great experience for all of them."

Johnston was so impressed by the video he requested a copy, she said.

Aside from running with the students and watching their video, Johnston also ate with them at the school.

"They got to eat some Arctic char, some bannock and some caribou stew.

"Her Excellency loved the caribou stew so much she's hoping to get the recipe," den Haan said with a laugh.

She said the experience of eating with the Governor General, running with him and sharing in a question and answer period, showed the students that he is just an everyday person, who cares very deeply about his country and the people of his country.

"He was very open and that made such an impression on these students because they saw him as, instead of that guy in the newspaper, as that guy that came to see us, that guy that listened to our questions and answered our questions and took the time to have lunch with us."

Mayor Hugh Haqpi said he remembers when he was in Grade 3 and Jean Chretien, before he was prime minister, came to visit his class. He said the students of Tusarvik will remember that they met the Governor General.

"They will remember for the rest of their lives that they have seen a governor general and he went to this school," he said.

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