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ARVIAT
Arviat's Matthew (Kidlapik) Iblauk knows all about beating the odds.

The 12-year-old has been doing it most of his life.

Calm Air contest winner Matthew (Kidlapik) Iblauk, second from right, was joined on his big trip to Winnipeg by family members Eva Kidlapik, left, Daisy Lilac Kidlapik, Charlotte Iblauk and Joanasie Kidlapik, this past month. - photo courtesy of Calm Air

Iblauk was born with a congenital heart defect and underwent open-heart surgery at just three months of age.

Although his condition keeps him from playing sports, the Grade 6 student enjoys watching hockey, especially when his favourite team, the Winnipeg Jets, are playing.

And that helped make Iblauk's winning of the Calm Air Ultimate Jet Contest all the more special this past month.

That and, through the airline's generosity, getting to watch the game with his family by his side.

Iblauk speaks mostly Inuktitut.

With his father, Joanasie Kidlapik, translating, Iblauk said he had a great time on the trip, especially watching the hockey game.

"It was really special for us to go as a family, thanks to Calm Air," said Iblauk.

"When I first won the contest, I thought I would have to choose who to go with.

"But they got extra tickets for us to go as a family and that was really special.

"I was glad everyone got to go and we enjoyed it all as a family."

Joining Iblauk and his dad at the game were his mom, Eva Kidlapik, and his sister, Charlotte Iblauk.

Baby Daisy Lilac Kidlapik, 2, didn't go to the game, but got to make the trip with her family.

Joanasie said the trip will always be fondly remembered by his family.

He said Matthew smiled for a whole day after being told he had won the contest and would be going to Winnipeg to see the Jets play.

"We got to watch the game from a corporate box, so we had a great view of the Jets against the New Jersey Devils," said Joanasie.

"Having the Jets win 4-1 was icing on the cake.

"We had a fantastic time in Winnipeg as a family."

Joanasie said the trip was super-special for his son.

He said with all Matthew's been through, it's hard to put into words what it meant to the family.

"Matthew had a balloon inflated twice in his vein that connects to the pulmonary valve.

"He just had one of the balloon procedures done on his valve this past May."

Matthew was given lots of swag to remember his trip, including a pair of Jets jerseys and team hats, as well as Calm Air shirts and hats.

Joanasie struggled to fight back the tears as he tried to explain how much the trip meant to his son and family.

To him, he said, it was an awesome experience.

"It was the best Christmas gift I've ever received.

"We're going to be talking about our trip for a long, long time.

"The kids are wishing for us to go back, but I had to tell them only if we win more tickets."

Calm Air's Nunavut area manager, Karen Yip of Baker Lake, said it's hard to believe just how special everything turned out.

She said she had trouble connecting with Joanasie, at first, because he didn't have a phone.

"I had been travelling to Rankin and Chester and, when I returned, I found out he had tried to call numerous times and left messages with different people," said Yip.

"He had no idea why I was trying to contact him.

"It could have been an outstanding bill for all he knew, but he made an heroic effort to get in touch with me."

Yip said Joanasie finally reached her at home by phoning from Arviat's Northern store on his calling card.

She said as she began realizing how special the winner was, she was filled with a warm feeling inside.

"To the father, not a lot of good things have happened to his son in his life.

"So the win came as wonderful news to him.

"We went to Arviat to meet the family and take some pictures.

"We brought some gifts along and some of our people from Thompson, Man., flew in to meet Matthew."

Old Man Winter, however, was in a bad mood the week of Matthew's flight, and the weather went down in Arviat a day before his trip.

Calm Air scrambled to get tickets to a game the following week and put the process in motion again.

Yip said it was an incredible experience because the family was so hyped-up to go to the game.

She said when they finally arrived in Winnipeg, they were first off the jet.

"Matthew's mom was overcome with tears when she realized one of the pictures on the walls of the new terminal was her mother.

"That was quite the touching welcome to the city.

"The contest was only for two people to go to the game, but, because of the special circumstances of Matthew's win, we managed to get tickets for the family," Yip said.

"I'll never forget the emotion when Matthew's dad thanked us for helping provide a Christmas he knew his kids would never forget."

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