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Ken Toner was getting sick and tired of hearing the heartbreaking news of suicides in Nunavut.
He was also getting tired of hearing people trash the various levels of government for not doing enough to battle the problem.
To Toner's way of thinking, talk is cheap.
It was time for individuals to step up and start making a difference.
"The responsibility is with all of us, not just the governments, to do something about these issues," says Toner.
"I thought it was time to show what one person could do alone."
Toner started making phone calls, and within a month had 18 boxes of ice skates and hockey equipment on their way to Rankin.
"If everybody stood up and tried to make a difference, we could help our young people out a lot more than we are right now."
After consulting with Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association president Jim MacDonald, the two focused on getting smaller skates so kids could get on the ice at an earlier age.
An associate of Toner's, CGA Michael Fletcher of the Ottawa-based Diligentia Group, knew of a person who owned a skate shop.
He led to a number of other contacts and the blades were quickly in motion.
Toner says he was inspired in his efforts to help by local rec co-ordinator Johnny Tucktoo and others in the community.
"Johnny tries hard to do things that get young people involved, like the ice surface and sliding hill on Williamson Lake.
"And there's people like John Hickes, who often gives up his weekend to teach dog mushing to young people."
MacDonald says he was overjoyed to receive the smaller skates because getting equipment on younger kids is still a problem in Rankin.
"We have to start getting the younger kids skating at four to six years of age," says MacDonald.
"The earlier you get them started on the ice, the better the odds are that they'll stick with it."
Toner agrees, adding Kivalliq youth need things to keep them busy and interested.
"I wanted to show that anyone, if they care enough and want to, can make a positive difference in the lives of their neighbours.
"Each and everyone of us can make a difference in our own little way."
