SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
When Ed But saw the price attached to a number of everyday food items in Nunavut, he could no longer stand by and watch.

Coyotes Steakhouse and Lounge owner Ed But spearheaded an initiative to send fresh and frozen fruit to schools in Kugluktuk, Nunavut in response to the territory's high food prices. He hopes to expand the program to other communities across the North. - NNSL file photo

The Coyotes Steakhouse and Lounge owner said he saw photos of high-priced food circulating on social media last week and decided to spearhead an initiative to provide fresh items to remote communities. Today, a shipment of 200 pounds of fresh and frozen fruit will be sent to schools in Kuglukuk, Nunavut, to be used in their breakfast programs and he hopes to expand to communities more communities, including some in the Northwest Territories, over the next couple of months.

"I noticed the crazy prices of stuff that are basic necessities - like flour is $53 a bag and some people have pictures of cases of water selling for over $100 for 24 bottles," he said. "So I decided to save up money and ship food up there."

When he spoke to Kugluktuk's elementary and high schools, But said they expressed particular interest in obtaining more fresh fruits and vegetables. The schools' breakfast programs currently serve cereal and milk, but now will be able to incorporate fruit smoothies with the frozen strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in But's shipment.

Apples, oranges and bananas will also be included as they have a longer shelf life, but But said he hopes to increase the variety of fresh options in communities with more frequent freight delivery.

"If they flew more frequently there then we'd probably do it on a weekly basis," he said. "I love to keep the fruit fresh and not just restrict it to apples and oranges which hold better."

But has partnered with Buffalo Airways for the initiative, to transport the fruit to Kugluktuk at a discounted rate. Buffalo's general manager Mikey McBryan said the company was eager for the opportunity to give back to the communities - especially as food costs continue to rise.

"We're on the front lines of that whole thing and cost of everything goes up every year and any time we have the ability to help, we do," McBryan told Yellowknifer. "Two hundred pounds in 30,000 pounds of freight doesn't seem like very much but it would be a lot to the kids of Kugluktuk."

But's supplier Northbest Distributors also agreed to forgive half the cost of the fruit he said, adding he firmly believes just because you live in the North, doesn't mean you should have to sacrifice food options.

"Everyone is affected up North, but we live up here, we learn to live with it," he said. "We can't just say, 'Oh this is too expensive, I'm not going to carry it.'"

But says he has never forgotten the generosity of people across the North after a 2014 power outage resulted in burst pipes throughout the restaurant, $50,000 in repairs and a three-week loss in business.

"One thing about the North is the people are very, very close and very, very giving," he said. "After we were closed for three weeks, it was a really tough go for us but once we opened . a lot of people came and supported me and it was my banner year."

Going forward, each Monday and Tuesday, a portion of Coyotes patrons' bills will be donated toward the project. Diners simply have to sign their bill receipt and place it in the designated donation box at the end of their meal. But said he is also in the process of planning a charity car wash in the summer and silent auction of Inuit art with proceeds donated to purchasing food.

But says he hopes the program will be expanded to include Cambridge Bay, Fort Good Hope, Tulita, Deline and Lutsel K'e.