IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY - Christmas can be an expensive time for Northerners, but students at Kullik Ilihakvik in Cambridge Bay have their own store where they can buy gifts within a nine-year-old's budget.

Students at Kullik Ilihakvik in Cambridge Bay help out at the Canadian North Christmas Store in 2008. From left, Tobi Kingagolek, Calvin Ehaloak, George Ladouceur and Suki Hogaluk. - photo courtesy of Cathie Rowan.

"In the North, there are some people who can shop and travel and there are some that can't," said principal and organizer Cathie Rowan. "I wanted it to be available to all students so somebody that only had a toonie could come in and buy their mom something."

Rowan and her friend Carey Cayhill spend time each summer scouring dollar stores and liquidation outlets in Edmonton, searching for items for the Canadian North Christmas Store. This year, the girl's basketball team also assisted, Rowan said.

Canadian North ships the tubs full of items for free, Rowan said. Sixteen tubs worth of Christmas items were shipped to the community this year.

"She (Carey) helps me pack it all up and lends me her garage and she helps me run everything to the airport," Rowan said. "In the very hot summer months without ever having been here or seen the kids, this is how she contributes to our town."

Kids are given time during the school day to browse the store, which is usually held in a classroom, to buy Christmas presents. This year's store will run from Dec. 7 until Dec. 11, Rowan said.

Ten-year-old Skye Corey said she has between $20 and $30 to spend on Christmas presents this year. She said she likes the Christmas store because she wouldn't be able to afford many presents if she had to purchase them at a store in Cambridge Bay.

"The things you buy at the school are a lot less money than the things at the store," she said.

Nine-year-old Kanen Evalik said he has saved up approximately $30 of allowance money to spend on presents this year. Last year he used the store to buy his parents a set of salt and pepper shakers and a silver tray for his grandparents.

Eleven-year-old Kassidy Koaha-Laube uses the store to buy presents for her whole family, including her parents, grandparents, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Last year she bought her grandfather a gift that couldn't be found anywhere else in Cambridge Bay.

"I bought my grandfather a fish that makes noise," she said. "It sounds just like a frog."

Mea Aitaok, 8, also used the store last year to buy her mother a salad fork and spoon.

The store holds everything from toothbrushes to baby items to tools so students can buy presents for any member of their families, Rowan said.

Rowan said the whole school participates in the store. Older students help younger ones to shop, while other students wrap gifts or work as cashiers.

Only students are allowed to shop at the store, but after the final week it is opened up to parents during a big sale called the Last Chance Christmas Bazaar.

Rowan said watching the kids shop makes all the work worth it.

"It is a true delight watching the students choose that something special for someone they love," she said.