Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

CHESTERFIELD INLET - A fantastic turnout of volunteers led to one of the best hamlet day celebrations in recent memory for the community of Chesterfield Inlet this past week.

The celebrations ran May 19-23, and featured fun-filled activities for all ages.

Chester's recreation co-ordinator, Michelle Branchaud, said turnouts were high for almost every event during the festivities. She said the hamlet was able to offer more games and activities for everyone to enjoy due to the number of people who helped out.

"We had the best turnout of volunteers for hamlet days of any event we held since I started working here," said Branchaud.

"That made all the difference in the number of events we could offer.

"Volunteer firefighters, Rangers, individuals within the community and members of the drag race, registration and recreation committees all helped out.

"It was a step in the right direction for community spirit."

The hamlet offered a wide variety of activities throughout the five days, including a community bingo, strongman competition, kids bicycle parade, radio games, cribbage tournament, target shooting competition, teen dance and drawing-and-colouring contest.

Branchaud said spirits were high in the community throughout the event because it coincided with the annual fishing derbies.

The fishing derby committee scheduled trout angling for the weekend before hamlet days began, and measuring for the cod derby took place the first day of the hamlet celebration.

"There was lots going on with the fishing derby, Ski-Doo races and various games, so everyone had lots to do.

"There were also lots of great prizes for both derby and hamlet day winners.

"But, even though the fishing derby committee and the hamlet had some great prizes, everyone kept it friendly and nobody, that I'm aware of, got overly competitive.

"We held a random lottery draw for our donated airline tickets so everyone would have an equal chance at them, and the winner got a large round of applause from the community when she received her prize."