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 A group of seniors from Canada and the United States toured Iqaluit last week on an educational tour organized by Nunavut Arctic College. On the second last day of their trip, the group received a carving demonstration and toured Iqaluit's sculpture garden. - Christine Kay/NNSL photo |
That's what 18 elders from Southern Canada and the United States said during their educational tour of Nunavut's capital city.
"Like everyone else, it seems, I have a curiosity about the Arctic. It's not the usual run-of-the-mill type of place," said Julie Southerst of British Columbia.
She was in Iqaluit last week with the Elderhostel Group, an international organization that co-ordinates educational travel for people aged 55 and over.
The whirlwind tour of the city was organized by Nunavut Arctic College. It's been going on every year for the last 15 years and includes some short Inuktitut lessons, carving demonstrations, a walking tour, discussions about Inuit culture and political development of the territory.
Site co-ordinator for the tour, Bert Rose, has lived in Iqaluit since 1981. He said the tours are always busy, lasting a week and starting every day at about 7 a.m.
He said the oldest person that has participated in the tour was 93 years old. Rose said planning for this year's trip started in December 2002. "People are always concerned about the temperatures. They also ask about mosquitoes. Most of the people who participate are people who have grown up with some knowledge of the North," said Rose.
Although the trip is always scheduled to coincide with the summer solstice so participants are here on the longest day of the year, this group hardly saw the sun. In fact, he said one of the trip's highlights was when the sun finally emerged two days before the tour was over.
Persis Gow is from New Hampshire. She had a good time despite the rain and clouds.
"I just have to see how other people live in different places and in different communities," she explained.
Gow was very impressed by the creative talent she found in Iqaluit. She said the art she viewed at the legislative assembly was just wonderful.
All of the participants said they'll go home, whether it's to British Columbia or California, and tell everyone about their adventure. Gow said she can think of many people who would find Iqaluit to be quite interesting.
