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Tundra tree shopping tips

How to get the best deal for your buck

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 22/00) - Christmas comes but once a year and thankfully, so does the search for a tree.

A bit of a tricky task at the best of times, the search for the perfect tree to put presents under becomes even more complicated and problematic in a land where trees do not grow.

The idea of mother and dad and baby makes three hiking through the forest for a lush, snow-covered evergreen is nothing more than a bizarre fantasy on Nunavut terrain.

And were it not for the few retailers who have set up shop in the eastern Arctic, Nunavummiut who choose to celebrate in such a style would be completely out of luck.

In Rankin Inlet, the hub of the Kivalliq region, residents actually have the luxury of choosing between an artificial or authentic needle-bearing tree.

Ringing in at about $70 for one of God's former living creatures, Northern store manager Gord MacCallum said despite the great price, they weren't a huge seller.

"Last year we had about 20 trees and after Christmas, we still had 12 left," said MacCallum.

"I thought a lot of people would want to buy trees, but I guess not," he said.

Flaunting a tree of the plastic variety in his own home, MacCallum said he figured most people opted for the not-so-real version because they lasted longer.

"I bought mine 10 years ago and I'm still using it," he said.

"But we do have people who really like (the real ones) and they just smell so nice."

In Coral Harbour, residents can only purchase artificial Christmas trees. And even then, Northern store manager Dave Adamson said they weren't a huge selling item.

"Most people keep them for 20 years," he said.

Stringing the traditional lights and standard-fare Christmas bulbs on the tree that graces his own home, Adamson reckoned customers in Coral Harbour went for the replica rather than the real because of lifespan.

Chesterfield Inlet's Rhoda Katsak decorates her artificial tree -- those of the coniferous species are not available -- in the traditional manner, with "tinsel, balls and whatever," and said she waited to erect the Christmas monument until her six kids finished school in mid-December.

As for whether or not there would be an armload of presents waiting for her Christmas morning, Katsak merely chuckled and said, "I hope so."