Hay River (June 23/03) - It's getting late in the evening in Hay River, but there is still a bustle of activity around town.

That can mean only one thing -- it's the beginning of summer and the North is enjoying the most daylight hours of the year.

Leading up to and after the longest day of the year -- June 21 -- most Northerners adjust their lifestyles to take advantage of more sunlight.

There are many changes, even in Hay River, which doesn't have 24-hour sunlight. The sun only sets for a few hours late in the evening.

Sports enthusiasts take advantage of the extra daylight -- from softball players to joggers to skateboarders.

Golfers especially squeeze out every minute of daylight.

"We'd go to 11 o'clock if it's daylight," says Velma Rowe, just after completing a round of golf at the Hay River Golf Course.

One of her playing partners, Cheryl Fair, agrees this is a great time of year for golfing, noting many people also take advantage of the earlier sunrise to get in a round of golf before work.

Gardeners also enjoy more time outdoors working on their plants and yards.

"During times like this, we stay outdoors longer," says Armil Ramos, spotted working on his front yard in Hay River.

On the down side of longer daylight hours, Ramos says he has trouble sleeping because of the light.

"We've put up a darker curtain and I put on an eye mask," he says.

Leighann Campbell, the manager of The Rooster, a 24-hour convenience store, notices a difference in business with more daylight.

"I see more people out," she says. "You can definitely notice it."

However, not everyone is affected by the longer daylight hours.

Ivan MacDonald says the longer days really make no difference to him.

But then the 71-year-old says he goes to bed at 9 or 10 p.m., and gets up at 4:30 a.m. "just for the hell of it."

MacDonald does admit it's nice having more daylight, especially early in the morning when he gets up.

Plus, less darkness has one other advantage, he notes. "It's better on the power bill."

And the sun is shining brighter when MacDonald does a little fishing in the Hay River after supper.