BAKER LAKE - Students from Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary and Rachel Arngnammaktiq Elementary schools held their annual Remembrance Day service in Baker Lake earlier this month.

The ceremony was held in the Amitnaaq school gym.

Grade 12 home-room teacher Rebecca Walker co-organized the event with elementary teacher Lindsay Baker.

Walker said she and Baker have worked on the special Remembrance Day ceremony since the school began hosting the event in 2005.

She said they ask for volunteers from the student body to take part in the ceremony each year.

"We had the choir participate this year and we always have readings in English and Inuktitut, making it a bilingual ceremony," said Walker.

"We ask for volunteers and the students come forward.

"Unfortunately, he was sick this year, but, normally, we try to have the student council president MC the event.

"Parts of the ceremony vary slightly from year to year, but it's always a student-driven program."

Members of the Baker Lake Patrol of the Canadian Rangers take part in the ceremony every year, as do members of the local RCMP detachment.

And, even though the event is held on a school day, a number of residents always find time to show up.

Walker said it would be nice if more people could attend, but the space at the back of the gym is always filled.

"We always strive to hold the event during Veteran's Week from Nov. 5 to 11, but we had to make an exception this year and hold it on Nov. 12 because our H1N1 flu vaccines were being done from Nov. 9 to 11.

"It's a quiet ceremony, about an hour long, and the students are quiet and respectful during the proceedings because they understand what's going on.

"Each class from kindergarten to Grade 12 also makes a wreath or a cross, and two students from each class place them on the stage during the laying of the wreaths.

"During that part of the ceremony this year, our elementary school principal, Ivan Payne, played a song for us on his guitar and that really added to the atmosphere."