Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 12, 2007

RANKIN INLET - Try as she may, Mother Nature just can't seem to come up with anything to dampen the spirits of those who attend the annual Kataujaq Society family picnic in Rankin Inlet.

Veronica Papak heads for the finish line during the jelly bean race at the Kataujaq Society's annual family picnic in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Cold temperatures and high winds were the norm again this year, as about 200 people dropped by the picnic site in front the hamlet office earlier this month.

The society's executive director, Evelyn Thordarson, said the annual event was a rousing success, despite the cold temperatures and windy conditions.

She said the society went through about 500 hotdogs at the picnic and gave away numerous great prizes.

"I had to laugh when I looked out the morning after the picnic and saw that it was a beautiful day," said Thordarson.

"It's almost funny how the weather seems to be always cold or rainy on the day we hold our picnic.

"But, the silver lining for us is that we always attract a decent crowd for the picnic, despite the bad weather, so that shows us the community looks forward to the event every year."

The Kataujaq Society runs a day care and a regional women's safe shelter in Rankin.

Its annual picnic features face painting, hotdogs and juice, a bicycle parade, numerous games such as the water-balloon toss, the egg toss and the jelly bean race, and lots of cool prizes.

Thordarson said the 2007 picnic was co-sponsored by First Air and the Department of Community and Government Services.

She said the community was quite generous in donating prizes for this year's picnic, and that had many kids, and a few adults, grinning from ear to ear at the end of the day.

"We had a lot of kids out to this year's event and that's who we were targeting."

"They got lots of food in their bellies and had a great time playing all the games and winning a few prizes, and that's what it's all about for us," Thordarson said.

"It's great to see the kids and a number of their parents out enjoying some quality time together.

"It's the society's modest way of thanking the community for all the support we receive throughout the year."