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INUVIK - Mackenzie Road will be brighter this year, thanks in part to a gesture by the town office.

Town staff were busy last week handing out a set of Christmas lights to every business on the main road.

Mayor Derek Lindsay and senior administrative officer Sara Brown stand with a set of LED Christmas lights. The town gave out lights to businesses on Mackenzie Road to help jumpstart the festive season. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Mayor Derek Lindsay said the lights were given out to help the spirit of the season.

"We want to make downtown more Christmas-y," he said.

"At one time we used to have a very bright downtown core. The hotels used to be lit up as well."

Lindsay said the town hosts an annual Christmas decoration contest with two categories - residential and commercial.

His concern is that businesses have dropped off the festive radar in recent years.

During last year's decorating contest, there were so few entries from businesses that the money was divided between residential entries only.

"We've always given a prize for the best commercial decorations but we didn't last year," he said.

"This year, we took that money and bought these lights instead.

"We want to get the businesses back online with the contest."

Lindsay estimated the cost of the lights at $400.

He said the end goal is to brighten up the street, like it used to be years ago.

The mayor said he thinks the lack of pizazz on downtown business fronts could be attributed to higher utility costs.

"I know it costs more to keep those lights up than it has in the past," he said.

Senior administrative officer Sara Brown said she purchased 30 kits, which were passed out by staff members.

"We got some here in town and I got the rest at Canadian Tire," said Brown.

Brown said the lights the town handed out were LED, which consume far less energy than regular incandescent bulbs.

"We wanted to make sure we were encouraging others to use them as well," she said.

Lindsay said he would like to see more decorations throughout the town.

"Next year we're hoping to put some pole Christmas lights up," he said.

Judging for the residential contest is on Dec. 19.

Lindsay said a team of experienced judges have already been chosen, including a town councillor, a town staff member and a member of the media.

"There are no dividing lines. The whole town is eligible for this contest," said Lindsay.