Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Nov 28/01) - This is the first in a special four-part series examining bingo in the Kivalliq. It's a dilemma most hamlets know all too well.

Bingo revenues help put a smile on the faces of Rankin Inlet recreation director Johnny Tucktoo, left, and finance officer Rob Hedley. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

On one hand, bingo is the one of the most efficient ways municipalities and most organizations have to raise funds.

On the other, too much money being spent on bingo means too little finds its way to purchase family necessities.

Rankin Inlet senior administrator Ron Roach says without bingo revenue, the hamlet might have to cut the local hockey season in half.

"The hamlet would not have been able to do the repairs on the arena structure last year if not for the bingo money," says Roach. "The vast majority of the recreation money that comes in through bingo goes to the community centre to maintain the arena, community hall, swimming pool and curling rink."

The hamlet claims two of the 12 bingo slots granted each month. That's down significantly from this time last year, when it claimed every Friday slot.

"Council felt -- as our financial situation improved and we became more efficient -- it wasn't fair for us to take so many slots, so now we take two a month."

Radio Bingo is held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while Friday-night bingo is held at the community hall.

A lottery-style draw is held for the bingo slots twice each year. Two slots for the hamlet, two for the Radio Society and one search-and-rescue (SAR) team are predetermined. Roach says the SAR requirement is obvious -- members need money to buy gas and supplies when a search is called.

The Radio Society, meanwhile, has two slots because it wants to buy a transmitter and operate independently from the CBC.

"If the society can raise the funds for its own transmitter, it could provide local radio service eight hours a day for seven days a week.When there's a search on, we could be on 24 hours a day."

Revenues stay in community

Bingo revenues to the hamlet have increased dramatically during the past three years, from $30,651 in 1999 to $53,339 for 2000 to an eye-popping $176,390 for the year ending in 2001.

Roach says the hamlet doesn't want to see anyone develop a problem by playing bingo.

But if bingo goes, a lot of benefits go with it.

Roach says people shouldn't forget that money raised by bingo stays in the community and goes towards worthwhile activities.

"Let's be honest here. There's only so many ways you can raise funds in the North.

Bingo is the lifeblood of fundraising for many groups that accomplish a lot of good in our hamlets by providing elders and youth with opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have."

Most sporting organizations in the Kivalliq use their bingo revenues to pay travel costs.

SAR committees are able to maintain buildings, hold regular meetings, buy satellite phones and other necessary equipment and build komatiks -- all through bingo revenues.

"We also have a group of women here in Rankin who volunteer to run the games.

"The money they raise goes into a bank account and is used when a death occurs in someone's family who needs help travelling to that community. So, as you can see, bingo revenues do a lot of a good for a great many people."