Inuvik (Dec 24/04) - It's the second year in a row that I've been asked to help judge the town's Christmas lights contest and after last year's hilarity with former councillor George Doolittle, I agreed to take part again.

Denis Savoie's bright display at his ToGo's restaurant took first place for the business category in the Town of Inuvik's Christmas lights decorating contest. A pair of Christmas bulb reindeer graze on Conrad and Juanita Bourque's Reliance Street yard. The couple won third place for best residential display.

My colleagues on this evening of picking and choosing were the town's convention and tourism assistant Melissa Schab, Inuvialuit council rep Shirley Kisoun and student rep Doris Rogers.

Armed with notepads and digital cameras, our team scoured the neighbourhoods looking for the best efforts in festive outdoor decorating.

Though the number of homes that were, in the words of Schab, "lit up" was down from last year, "the spirit was still there because those who did (decorate) really went all out," she said.

As our team stopped in front of various homes, Kisoun - riding shotgun - would give each a name based on the feeling she got.

"Candy Cane Lane," she dubbed one house, calling another, "Hockey Night in Inuvik."

And on the evening went. But we didn't have all night, as the community feast and old time dance were underway at the rec centre and we all wanted to get there as soon as we could.

And it was a good thing we finished early, as Rogers went on to win the jigging contest at the old time dance, along with Michael Francis.

While homes that had loads of lighting were duly noted, we decided in the end to go with Mervin Joe's display for first place, which combined lights with a homemade reindeer team Joe made out of logs.

After sorting out the residential winners, it was a unanimous decision to give Denis Savoie top prize in the business category for the "Santa's Workshop" display decorating his restaurant on Mackenzie Road.

Much thanks to those who participated and congratulations to all the winners.