Nunavut fans ready to cheer on team
Nunavut parents and supporters take charter flight to AWG
James McCarthy
Northern News Services
Published Monday, March 17, 2014
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Aside from the momentous logistical efforts that went into ferrying Arctic Winter Games athletes to the circumpolar event this year, with hundreds arriving in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Saturday, Team Nunavut will also have a strong fan base thanks to the efforts put in by a parent from Hay River.
Louise Schuman organized a charter for parents and fans for both Team NWT and Nunavut to attend the games and said the support for the idea from Nunavut parents and fans made the trip possible.
The wife-and-husband duo of Rosie and John Kaiyogana of Cambridge Bay is making it a full week. They have two nieces playing with the the girls basketball team and a nephew also playing basketball.
John said the charter was a much getter option than pulling a loop-de-loop around western North America.
"It was a lot faster and a lot cheaper, too," he said.
Rosie, of course, is looking forward to seeing the basketball competitions but she's also looking forward to the cultural gala, which is a big component of the games. Every single contingent has sent artists and performers for the gala, which happens on Thursday evening.
"I'm really looking forward to see Alaskan culture," she said. "Also all the other parts of Canada and what they're going to show.
A full planeload of 120 people from the NWT and Nunavut left Yellowknife and it was all thanks to the work of Schumann.
The charter was booked through Air North, the newest airline to branch out in the North, and they're based out of Whitehorse.
Schumann admitted they actually gave her the best price in the end, beating out both First Air and Canadian North.
"They were actually the last vendor that I got a hold of," she said. "They had the best price and they provided us with the best flight - warm cookies, even. It was awesome."
The Nunavut passengers flew in from all parts of the territory to catch the charter in Yellowknife, such as Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Chesterfield Inlet.
Schumann said they were a big reason why the plane even flew at all.
"They actually helped us keep the costs down," she said. "If it weren't for them, we would be paying a lot more."
Once the plane touched down and everyone safely cleared customs, the passengers were greeted by enthusiastic volunteers from the host city, who welcomed them after picking up their bags.
The opening ceremony kicked things off last night officially but there were some sports which got underway before that happened, including indoor soccer, volleyball and curling. The rest of Team Nunavut gets underway today with all sports in action in some way, shape or form.
