Skating on the Beaufort Sea
New skating rink in the community makes use of area's biggest ice sheet
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Monday, April 13, 2015
IKAAHUK/SACHS HARBOUR
For the first time in years, Sachs Harbour residents are skating on their very own oceanic ice rink.
"It's been along time since they actually created a skating rink on the harbour," said Terry Davidson, principal of Inualthuyak School.
Davidson said from what he's heard from other residents, the community used to have a yearly outdoor rink on the harbour but it had become a thing of the past. This year, staff with the Hamlet of Sachs Harbour revived the tradition.
"It's the first time in many, many years," Davidson said. "They were talking about when people used to have this, probably in the last generation of families."
Since it's creation in March the rink has been used only a few times due to bad weather.
But Davidson said he expects children in the community will make good use of it as spring weather arrives.
"They're looking forward to going more and more," he said.
"As more time goes by, we'll spend more time out there. In the coming weeks we're going to enjoy it a lot."
Skating is being incorporated into the weekly routine at the school, with a few hours each week dedicated to spending time out on the ice.
"What we're going to do is we're going to have a couple of our periods each week devoted to skating and playing hockey," Davidson said.
Lessons through the school have made skaters of them all, he added.
"Over the last two years, we've taught them to skate," he said.
"It started out slowly because there weren't a lot of kids that skated or skated well."
Now, every student will be able to enjoy the rink.
"We have 14 kids in the school and I think that most of the 14 will be using the (outdoor) arena," Davidson said.
One of those students is Jasmine Keogak, who is in Grade 9. She said she loves to skate and will be spending a lot of time practicing her skills.
"I am very happy they made the rink," she said.
"Gliding on the ice" is one of the reasons she says she enjoys skating.
Community members have been quick to make the rink a special gathering spot.
"A few people actually went down and brought some hot chocolate for everyone," Keogak said.
The weather in Sachs Harbour has been improving and students are now eagerly waiting for the next time they can go skating, Davidson said.
"They're excited to get out there," he confirmed.
