SANIKILUAQ - Sanikiluaq's youth sports programs obtained much of their equipment by an unusual route. A carving donated by the Co-op was sold in Winnipeg and the money was used to buy basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, footballs and different sizes of baseballs and gloves.

Sports organizer RCMP summer student Chris Kittosuk with some of the recently donated equipment that made his program possible. - photo courtesy of Cst. Diane MacDonald

"I wanted to share the talent of the local artists with people down south and give them an opportunity to own a piece of real Northern art, but at the same time be able to provide something back to the community - specifically the children," said RCMP Cpl. Sean Chiddenton.

Chiddenton is now an RCMP drill instructor at the national training depot in Regina, but in February 2008 he was serving a one-month relief in Sanikiluaq. While he was there he became a regular buyer of carvings, and thought the unique artwork could help benefit the community if it reached a southern market.

Chiddenton brought up his idea with Mitiq Co-op manager Dwayne Searle. Searle donated a carving of a polar bear by local artist Johnassie Ippak. Chiddenton said the carving was worth about $400 at the Mitiq Co-op, but could have been sold for $1,500 in a gallery.

After his term in Sanikiluaq was done, Chiddenton looked into setting up a raffle in Regina for the carving, but found the Liquor and Gaming Authority paperwork to be overwhelming. Eventually, he simply sold it by word of mouth for $700. That money went all into buying as much sports equipment as it would afford.

"One of the biggest problems up there is a lack of organized sports for the kids," said Chiddenton. "In a small community, it's hard to find someone who can organize baseball. I've spent nine years in the North. I've seen nine-year-old kids doing break-and-enter just because it's something to do."

Chiddenton asked Keewatin Air in Winnipeg if the company would be willing to transport the gear to Sanikiluaq on its regular scheduled flight at cost. Instead, company CEO Wayne McLeod agreed to ship it for free when he found out what it was for. The equipment arrived in Sanikiluaq last month.

"I may have got the ball rolling in this little project, but it was made complete with the help and generosity of several others." Chiddenton said.

Last summer the Co-op also donated floor hockey and baseball equipment for the town's sports programs.