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IQALUIT - Rev. Michael Gardener held an audience of Iqaluit middle-schoolers at rapt attention last week as he told tales in honour of Remembrance Day.

Students from the Aqsarniit middle school helped organize and host an early assembly in honour of the holiday on Nov. 7.

Krista Akulukjuk, left, Ashley Kilabuk-Savard, Chris Freda and Bryan Slaney stand at attention while Rev. Michael Gardener speaks at an early Remembrance Day ceremony at Aqsarniit middle school in Iqaluit on Nov. 7. - Karen Mackenzie/NNSL photo

Standing before the surprisingly quiet crowd, Gardener recounted his own memories of being a young student in England during the Second World War, when bombs fell nightly around his community.

At the time it did not seem all bad, he said.

When the air raid sirens began wailing, he and the other students would be shuffled out of class into shelters. Not realizing the seriousness of the situation until a few years later, it seemed more of an adventure than a hardship.

"We were the only ones in those times who thought it was a little fun," he said.

At night, he and his family would also retreat to shelters, which, as an 11 or 12-year-old boy, seemed more exciting than scary.

"I thought it was fun, camping out every night," he said.

Turning once more to the seriousness of the day, Gardener also led the group in prayer in Inuktitut.

"The people who made it possible to win the wars, we remember them," he concluded.

Planned and executed by members of the school's Igloo Committees, the event featured a number of guests, stories and music.

"They organize a number of activities throughout the year, working together to make them work," said Grade 7 teacher Eduardo Veiga.

Students Chris Freda and Bryan Slaney were two of the event's young MCs.

"We had butterflies, but we practised a lot," Slaney said.

The two, along with Krista Akulukjuk and Ashley Kilabuk-Savard, cued music and led the group.

The assembly also featured a display by local cadets, a recitation of "In Flanders Fields," a qulliq lighting and a performance by bagpipe player Rob Long.

"It was cool to hear what happened when (Gardener) was younger," Freda said. "The person who played the loud bagpipes, that was cool too."