And there's no saying this event won't be bigger and better than the Cabot 500 celebrations.

Bennett has been hired as the marketing director for Nunavut Tourism to organize the hoopla. "It will all come a bit at a time," Bennett told News/North last week.

"We're getting the foundation started and we're writing a document outlining the framework."

Nunavut's birthday party, he said, will take shape in two ways.

A long list of events will take place during the inaugural week, beginning on April 1, 1999.

Other events will continue in the following months, the best time of the year to travel and experience Nunavut.

With this model in mind, Bennett said, his priority now is to come up with a business plan and go out into communities and gather ideas.

"We give them the blueprint. It's not really our job to design the events," said Bennett.

All ideas for the celebrations should reflect the history, lifestyle, culture, art and traditions of Nunavut, he added.

Meanwhile, Nunavut Tourism will continue to market Nunavut to the nation and the world at trade shows around the globe.

It's not going to be easy organizing the celebrations, considering the time constraints, said Bennett. But he said he's fortunate to have a strong steering committee to help him pull it off.

Steering committee members include chief NIC commissioner John Amagoalik, Deputy Prime Minister Goo Arlooktoo, Pauktuutit president Martha Flaherty and Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jane Stewart

Communities wait in excitement

Cape Dorset senior administrative officer Timoon Toonoo said that, while no community events are planned at this point, they have received an information package from the NWT Department of Economic Development to get them thinking.

"I'm sure council will do something here, but I don't know how big it will be," said Toonoo.

Toonoo expects most of the celebrating will be happening in Iqaluit, where dignitaries and special guests will be in attendance.

Toonoo's excitement is shared by Pelly Bay's newly-elected mayor, Tars Angutinguniark.

"As you know, 1999 is when we start our Nunavut. I think that's exciting," said Angutinguniark. "It will mean more opportunities for Inuit all the way around."

He admitted, however, that because he has only been in his mayoral post for three weeks, he hasn't had time to think about community celebrations on April 1.

But when they do celebrate, he expects to see lots of games, activities, drum dancing and community feasts.

Unveiling of symbols

Many of the official details for the celebration

are still in the works. In May of last year, a team of experts travelled to several Nunavut communities to spread the word about contests to search out Nunavut's symbols. On the team were Robert Watt, chief herald of Canada; Gilles Binda, a senior policy adviser with the Nunavut secretariat of the federal government; and Meeka Kilabuk, commissioner and treasurer for the Nunavut Implementation Commission.

Since then, a number of ideas for flags have been chosen and handed over to a special committee for selection.

The flag and the winning artist will be unveiled on April 1.

The coat of arms is still in the preliminary stages. The contest deadline has been extended to make up for time lost during the postal strike.

"There's a lot of excitement out there for some," said Meeka Kilabuk.

"Imagine that very important day, with all the ceremonial events happening in each municipality and in Iqaluit, the capital. Everyone will be waiting to see if they won."