Inuvik (May 16/03) - About 150 passengers flew out of Halifax on Friday, spent a couple nights in Edmonton and flew to Inuvik Sunday where they were invited to a special party as the guests of honour -- and also the main course.

Gordon Church cracks the claws and splits the tails of some 150 lobsters that were prepared for the Beaufort Delta Francophone Association's annual Mother's Day Lobster Dinner. - Terry Halifax/NNSL photo

The Association des francophones du delta du Mackenzie has hosted the Mothers Day Lobster Dinner the past three years and co-ordinator Richard Letourneau says the event has proven to be their biggest fundraiser of the year.

"We sold all 125 tickets," Letourneau said. "It's probably the biggest event the French association hosts."

The Royal Canadian Legion was packed Sunday with moms and guests who lined up for the steamed red bugs, salad and rolls.

The association flew in 155 lobsters and fed the salivating ticket holders as well as a table of hungry volunteers. After dinner, any leftovers were sold.

Letourneau is from Quebec, but he says the association consists of about 40 members who come from all over Canada.

"There are lots of people from New Brunswick and Eastern Canada," he said.

"We also have anglophone members who like to come and practise their French," he said.

The next event the association will hold will be the corn feed in September, but Richard says they may try to hold something for St. Jean Baptiste Day in June as well.