Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sep 30/02) - Iqaluit will be welcoming her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Canada on Friday.

This is the first royal visit to Nunavut since its formation as a territory.

"It's a visit to Nunavut not just Iqaluit," said press secretary for the Premier of Nunavut, Annette Bourgeois.

When the Queen arrives, a motorcade will go straight to the legislative assembly where she will give a speech and unveil a statue.

Insp. Jim MacDougall said the RCMP has been preparing for the visit for several months.

"RCMP officers are coming in from other communities in Nunavut and from the South to supplement the force," said MacDougall.

He said extra security measures are being put in place but refused to release any specifics due to safety concerns. MacDougall is asking for the public's co-operation. "She's landing here right at the noon hour, which is our traffic time in Iqaluit. The streets will be blocked off, but only for a short time," said MacDougall.

There will be a short walk-about from the legislative assembly to the Four Corners where the public will be able to see the Queen and Duke.

Inukshuk high school is the next scheduled stop. A cultural display and a demonstration of traditional Inuit sports will be given by students and elders from the community. The Duke of Edinburgh will present awards at the school. They will go to seven youth from Nunavut who have been participating in the Terry Fox program. The program is a second chance program for kids who have struggled in school. Nick Newbery, Grade 9 teacher at Inukshuk and head of the Terry Fox Program, said a lot of work has been done at the school to prepare for the royal visit.

"Public works has helped in repairing the floors and painting the walls. Class pictures were taken early so they could be displayed in time," said Newbery.

The last stop along the way will be at the Arctic College Sculpture Garden.

The tour will last just a few hours.