INUVIK - Neither snow nor ice nor hurricane force Arctic winds that punch the breath right out of you can stop the French from enjoying a night of wine and cheese.

Amie Hay, left, and Anne Church enjoy a glass of wine and conversation during the Inuvik French Association's 10th anniversary gala Saturday. - Kira Curtis/NNSL photo

Like any fine soiree, the air of the old Curling Club Lounge in the Midnight Sun Complex was filled with many conversations peppered with a laugh or interested "ooooh." Though the storm may have prevented a few from venturing out, the anniversary party of the Inuvik French Association went on Saturday, Feb. 26.

"It's the 10th anniversary of the Association des francophones de Delta du Mackenzie," Genevieve Boivin said. "We just thought it would be nice to have something special to celebrate."

Two dapper bartenders manned many bottles of wine, offering to switch varietals and topping up people's glasses - well, paper cups that said "Happy Retirement."

Tina Roy mingled, switching from flawless French to perfect English. She was the evening's highly anticipated musical entertainment that nearly didn't make it in to town.

Boivin waited at the airport for hours waiting to see if one last plane would make it safely from Yellowknife Friday. After a Canadian North plane was turned back from Norman Wells, Roy's First Air flight was seeming to be headed in the same defeated path, but somehow her plane managed to land safely.

"I was just happy that she made it," Boivin said. "She's really excited; she's never been to Inuvik. She plays folk music, so I think it's going to be pretty fabulous."

The folky bilingual songstress hushed the crowd as she opened the first of two 45 minute set with a Neil Young-sounding French ballad.

By the second song, the crowd of around 30 people migrated away from the platters of cheeses, fruit and fresh, chewy breads and sat themselves at tables directly in front of the stage.

Besides little baby Elsa needing parental attention, barely a soul moved - even to top up their wine.

When the set ended, jokes in French were tossed around, bubbling up a contagious laughter that even those who didn't understand laughed about.

The conversation rose and French phrases and tones made the night seem fancy and exotic, like a James Bond dinner party before the explosions, except everyone was wearing Sorels. And if you didn't look down at the wintery footwear, one could almost forget the gale-force winds whipping about outside.

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