INUVIK
World Oceans Day led to a special surprise for an Inuvik youth.

Grade 5 student Kyra McDonald, left, receives prizes for winning the Oceans Day logo contest from Robert Burden of the Department of Oceans and Fisheries July 20. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Kyra McDonald, a Grade 5 student at East Three Elementary School, won the logo contest for the July 20 event.

The logo was featured on the free T-shirts that were given away, as well as on hoodies sported by the volunteers.

The contest to design a logo was held at the school earlier this year, said Dave Burden, the regional director-general of the Department of Oceans and Fisheries, which helped sponsor the day's events.

“Every year we have a contest,” Burden said. “Many excellent drawings were submitted.”

McDonald said she just wanted to come up with a design that would incorporate a fish logo and the words “Oceans Day.”

“I thought everybody's drawings were really good,” she said. “I just wanted to draw something like a fish. I was surprised and really happy to win. It's really cool to see everybody wearing my logo on their shirts and hoodies.”

It was the first time since 2008 that World Oceans Day was celebrated in Inuvik because it rotates amongst the communities in the Delta on an annual basis.

The day started with a parade at 1:30 p.m., followed by a barbecue and games including harpoon throwing.

The Artsy-Fartsy club led by Ruth Wright also held a brief fashion show with clothing that had been recycled.

Burden said “I'm really happy to see such a great crowd out here today. We've been doing this with our co-management partners since 2002, and every year that I get up to see one of these I'm always amazed to see how great the numbers are from our communities who come out to help us celebrate.

“This is all about looking after our natural resources and how important they are to our well-being here in the territory. This is a chance for us to celebrate the importance of the Mackenzie and all our water resources that flow into the oceans. This is all about partnerships, this is all about community. The DFO remains committed to playing a strong role with you in looking after our resources.”

Inuvik Mayor Floyd Roland said he had just returned from a whaling trip to the coast on July 19, and that, combined with World Oceans Day, made him stop and consider the importance of bodies of water such as the Arctic Ocean and Beaufort Sea.

“It made me think about the importance of our cultural activities, such as hunting and fishing out there,” he said.

Nellie Cournoyea, the chairperson of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, reminded the spectators that the Inuvialuit works with the DFO on a co-management basis, to ensure the “health and well-being of our oceans and waters.

“Here's the east channel of the Mackenzie River, and we're very proud of our land and our country,” she said.