RANKIN INLET/NUNAVUT - About 20 arena maintainers from across Nunavut will descend upon Rankin Inlet to improve their skills later this month.

The community is playing host to a special ice making and maintenance course sponsored by Sport Nunavut.

Recreation coordinator David Clark shows staff member Paul Pissuk, left, what he needs done as they prepare the Rankin Inlet arena for a special ice course later this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The five-day program is scheduled to run from Sept. 14 to 18.

Rankin recreation co-ordinator David Clark said it's his understanding a special instructor from Alberta will be in to facilitate the program.

He said it will be good for his staff to not only learn from a professional, but to also spend time with their counterparts from across the territory.

"There's six members of my staff taking the course, so we're all pretty excited about it," said Clark.

"Our ice plant will be started on Sept. 1 and we'll start flooding shortly after that to have it ready for the course.

Clark said "the program will focus mainly on the proper way of painting and maintaining ice.

"With so many guys coming in for this, we'll have the ice in our arena and curling rink painted within two days this year."

Rankin and Iqaluit are the only two Nunavut communities with artificial ice in their arenas.

Clark said he's looking forward to learning a few tricks to provide even better ice this season.

He said everyone who attends the program should greatly improve their skills for this winter.

"You learn when you interact with different guys who do this type of thing, no matter where they're from.

"It's good for everyone to share ideas because you never stop learning when it comes to making ice."

Clark said workers from communities that don't yet have artificial ice will benefit just as much from the course as those who do.

He said the main difference between the two is when the initial process begins.

"Because we have an ice-making plant in Rankin, we don't have any problems when we start because it's going to be cold no matter what.

"We're no longer at the mercy of the weather here.

Painting the ice is the same no matter what type you have, Clark said. And, if there's any difference in maintaining artificial and natural ice. He is sure the course will cover it.

"It's great to have the chance to learn how to do something better that you love to do to begin with."