Cambridge Bay (Feb 28/05) - It's 1 p.m. on Saturday and the residents of Cambridge Bay are nowhere to be found.

With the exception of a couple of hamlet trucks, a construction crew at the old nurses' residence and a handful of people going visiting on their snowmobiles, the community seems to be taking the day off.

Kelly Avalak gives her 18-month-old daughter Jill a hug while the pair enjoys a walk around Cambridge Bay.

It's more than understandable - after all, the last week has indeed been a busy one.

Over the past few days at the Royal Bank, Maggie Aknavigak and her Auntie Rosie Kaiyogana have been on their feet serving customers, like Karen Langille, who come in looking for a personal touch to their transactions.

Eva and Ashlee Otokiak have been making the rounds, popping in wherever something exciting is happening. Anyone who's met Ashlee knows he's as friendly as he is curious about the world around him.

Elder Mary Avalak has been asked for the first time to perform the lighting of the qulliq ceremony to kick off a Government of Nunavut event. It's a great honour she gladly accepted.

At the Housing Corporation, they've just finished a training session with maintenance managers and foremen from around the Kitikmeot. Representatives of R.W. Beckett Canada, Weil-McLain and Riello all came to visit and teach finer points of burner and boiler maintenance to those responsible for keeping many of the region's home fires burning. In attendance were Allen Elatiak and Henry Streeter of Cambridge Bay; George Kakkianium and Alexandra Inqtuiniq of Kugaaruk; Arsien Tungilik and Tommy Putuguq of Gjoa Haven; Bob Hoddinott and Chester Porter of Taloyoak; and Jack Himiak and Ryan Nivingalok of Kugluktuk.

Cambridge Bay is the hub of the Kitikmeot and sessions like this are being organized all the time.

Down at the Elders' Palace, for example, the region's recreation co-ordinators are gathered for meetings as well. Hosts Julie Clements and Bert Maksagak are discussing various issues with their counterparts Mark Nahalolik Sr. of Taloyoak, Paul Puqiqnak of Gjoa Haven and Dave Little of Kugluktuk. Joining them is Kugluktuk High School Athletic Association executive director Kylo Harris.

Yes, there's always something going on in Cambridge Bay - take it from 11-year-old Shawn Coady who is already a standout with the community speed skating team.

"In the summer it's a great place to ride bikes," said the youngster, who hopes to be a pilot when he's older.

"In the winter going Skidooing and playing hockey are really fun."

While the same could be said of many communities in Canada, back at the bank Maggie Aknavigak thinks you really need to experience Cambridge Bay firsthand to understand how wonderful life is here.

"It's different than other places," she said. "There's lots to see and plenty of good native food to enjoy like fish and caribou."