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IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY - Some 30 Cambridge Bay girls are "over the moon" after Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Bieber sent them autographed cards in response to the 100 letters they sent him.

Ashley Evalik, left, and Alice Evetalegak display their autographed Justin Bieber cards. They contacted Bieber by mail in February and recently received a response. - photo courtesy of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society

Girls attending an after-school program at the May Hakongak Community Library started talking in February about how much they like Justin Bieber, said Renee Krucas, executive director of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society. With Valentine's Day coming at the time, she added she got the idea to have the girls write to him.

"We're always trying to come up with literacy projects, ways to get the kids excited about reading and writing so this seemed like a really good activity. They all wanted to," she said.

Girls were coming in daily, said Krucas, wanting to write to the music star.

In total, 30 girls aged four to 15 wrote letters, sometimes up to four, meaning some 100 letters were sent to Bieber's record label in New York City.

"It ranged from about three words to four-page letters," said Krucas. "In some of the cards and letters, they wrote how much they love his music, their favourite song. Some girls proposed marriage. A lot of really really cute messages, asking him questions – what's his favourite food, what does he like to do – all kinds of things."

Eight-year-old Tameika Oakoak, along with her five-year-old sister Barrington, wrote to the music star but neither could recall what she wrote.

Tameika said she's "a big fan." She was excited to get the autographed card she said she is keeping in her bedroom.

Barrington said she likes Bieber's songs and was excited to receive the autographed card.

"I'm a big fan," she said.

The girls were thrilled to received the autographed cards, said Krucas, adding via e-mail the girls are "over the moon."

"It was really nice because it had been a little while. They never forgot," she said, adding they would ask her almost weekly if a response arrived.

Now that the girls see it works, they are proposing different celebrities to write to, said Krucas.

"We will definitely be looking at doing it again really soon. It's a great way to get them excited about writing," she said. "It was fantastic."

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