John Curran
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 17, 2007

TUKTOYAKTUK - From one event to another in Tuktoyaktuk, community officials and organizers giving their kickoff and thank you speeches often sound a lot alike.

"Many thanks to Jenny Jacobson who made this wonderful cake for us tonight."

In this case, the statement came from acting mayor Merven Gruben, who was welcoming delegates to Kitti Hall during the recent Remote Community Wind Energy Conference, in Tuktoyaktuk.

It's a statement heard quite frequently in Tuk and could have just as easily been uttered by a bride or groom at their reception or a proud parent hosting a birthday party.

When there is something going on, it's often Jacobson giving those with a sweet tooth in attendance their fix as the community's unofficial chief baker.

"I've made a few for weddings now and for other events, too," she said. "It's a lot of work, but this is a tight community and I enjoy doing my part to help out."

In the case of the wind energy conference, it required a full day's work.

"It took about eight hours to decorate," she said. "Even the polar bear and the baby seal are made of icing."

In fact, the only part of the cake that wasn't edible was the tiny wind turbine sprouting out from behind the white and blue iglu.

"I tried to do a windmill out of icing too, but I just couldn't get it to stand on its own," she said.

Her experiences baking have included a little trial and error along the way, as she is largely self-taught.

While she's quick to point out she's no professional, Jacobson has been at it a while now.

"I started baking when I was 12-years-old," she said. "I just really like doing it - it's a lot of fun."