YELLOWKNIFE - Ten leftover bikes from the Rotary Club auctions were given new homes in Lutsel K'e on Aboriginal Day.

"We had a surplus of bikes turned into the RCMP this year," said Sean Ivens, president of the Rotary Club. "This year we had almost double the bikes."

Ivens said that he received a call from Roch Fortin, RCMP's officer in charge of the south district, saying that they had extra room on their plane to Lutsel K'e.

Ivens said that the donation was perfectly timed.

"What better day than around Aboriginal Day," he said.

Fortin said that this was the first time that the RCMP and the Rotary Club have done something like this.

"This is the first one of many probably down the road," said Fortin.

Fortin said the bikes will be loaned out to children as needed over the course of the summer.

"The local elementary school will lend them out," Fortin said.

The annual Rotary Bike Auction, which sells off unclaimed bicycles, was held twice this year, due to the excess number of bikes. Ivens said that the Rotary made close to $70,000 on the bike auction, and the money will go into local community projects as well as international projects.

"Many hands can do wonderful things," Fortin said.