Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Nov 30/05) - The formation of the Baker Lake Youth Athletic Association (BLYAA) has taken sports to new heights of popularity in the community.

The Baker Lake Youth Athletic Association's Blizzard mascot, Grizzly, has become a huge hit with players, students and fans alike in Baker Lake. - photo courtesy of the JASS Multi-Media Club

The association has also helped foster a dramatic increase in school attendance since its inception two years ago.

Brad Mainse is the director of player and coach development for the BLYAA.

Mainse says the biggest challenge in forming the association was getting local coaches to come together and work for a common goal.

He says in the past, coaches fought for bingo slots and other fundraising activities.

Once everyone came together and potted the money to be allocated as needed, participation in the sports program exploded.

"This approach has created more opportunities for us to do things with our kids," says Mainse.

"We have kids participating in every sport offered by Sport Nunavut this year, with the exception of speed skating.

"And that includes boys and girls in every age group and division. We were never able to accomplish that before forming the BLYAA."

As the BLYAA program developed, money was raised to purchase a mascot.

"Grizzly" was introduced to thunderous applause, which still erupts every time the furry blue mascot makes an appearance.

Mainse says having a mascot has allowed local kids to buy into the program even more strongly.

"The mascot is something they're able to watch and actually touch.

"Kids, adults - everyone gets pumped when that character comes out.

"The kids get real excited when it's their turn to be the mascot.

"We let a number of responsible students have the chance to have fun with it, and it's taken on a life of its own in many respects."

Baker athletes such as John Ray Merrick and Kiah Hachey have excelled since the BLYAA was formed, and most have responded well to the focus on combining athletics with scholastic achievement.

To date, the BLYAA has paid about $20,000 in registration fees to allow every youth the chance to participate.

The only thing asked in return has been to attend school.

"We're slowly raising the bar to try and get the kids to bring home higher marks.

"It's been doing wonders so far, as attendance at our high school has climbed past the 90 per cent mark.

"We're seeing the majority of our kids make the effort to attend school regularly and that's a positive first step.

"Now we're looking at them obtaining at least a 60 to 65 per cent mark in their core subjects, and most of them are meeting that."