Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (May 22/02) - The Girl Guides of Canada movement continues to grow in the Kivalliq Region.

Area commissioner Carla Punshon says the Guides finished their door-to-door cookie sales this past week.

The cookie campaign is the Guides' main fundraiser of the year.

"The money from our cookie sales will be divided among the local units this coming fall," says Punshon.

"The money helps cover operating costs to begin the new year."

The Rankin Guides will hold their advancement ceremonies May 23 at the Leo Ussak elementary school gym, beginning at 6:30.

Its theme -- Guided by Northern Lights -- illustrates the close parallel of Inuit culture and the spirit of Guiding.

The advancement ceremony, similar to a school graduation, is highly anticipated by Guiders.

Punshon says the event celebrates the accomplishments of every girl, whether they're moving to the next level, leaving or coming back in the fall.

The ceremony will feature Sparks, Brownies, Girl Guides and Path Finders.

There are more than 110 girls involved with Guiding in Rankin.

"Guiding grew a little this past year in Rankin. That's a positive sign for us because numbers are down by the thousands Canada-wide.

"We're proud Guiding continues to do so well in the North."

The big news for Kivalliq Guiding this year was the launch of an Arviat program.

"So far, we have a Sparks group running in Arviat, as well as Guides and Path Finders.

"We also have nibbles to start up in Repulse Bay and Chesterfield Inlet this coming fall."

On the leadership front, Punshon says work and family constraints are still a heavy burden on people when it comes to freeing up time to help the local program.

"We added one more Inuit leader this year and saw more parental involvement.

"Large families are the norm with Inuit culture and that leads to big family commitments.

"So it tends to be difficult for them to give up a weekend or commit to weekly meetings as leaders."