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IKAAHUK/SACHS HARBOUR
Doreen Carpenter knew something special was happening when she was asked to dress up for work last week.

Doreen Carpenter, Sachs Harbour recreation co-ordinator, received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her service to her community on Aug. 21. From left, Kowesa Etitiq, acting SAO, Priscilla Haogak, mayor, Doreen Carpenter and RCMP Cpl. Clifton Dunn. - photo courtesy of Larry Carpenter

The Sachs Harbour recreation co-ordinator had been wearing her coveralls all morning as she busily helped unload equipment from the barge for the hamlet’s recreation department.

Carpenter said she warned fellow staff members what would happen if they tried to surprise her.

"I said, 'tell me exactly what this is, I don’t want to be put on the spot'," she said, laughing. "Otherwise I’m going there in my coveralls."

Carpenter didn’t know it, but the 15-year-veteran of the hamlet’s recreation department was about to be awarded with Canada’s newest symbol of achievement – the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The award "serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians," according to the Governor General’s office. It was created to recognize the 60th anniversary Queen Elizabeth’s becoming Queen.

Carpenter was presented with the award on Aug. 21.

Since she took charge of the community’s recreation department, opportunities for kids and youth have flourished. Outside of regular work, Carpenter’s other initiatives have improved the lives of many residents.

She started a parents and tots program 15 years ago that has now expanded to include kids up to age 12.

"Now we have it five days a week all afternoon," she said. "It’s turned into an after- school program."

Carpenter also started a program that brings youth to Inuvik every year to learn how to swim.

"None of the kids knew how to swim, we wanted to make sure they had water safety," she said. "We raise a lot of money, we take them to Inuvik for a week of swimming lessons. Our kids can swim."

Kowesa Etitiq, acting administrative officer, said these were just some of the reason why he nominated Carpenter for the award.

"It’s for her efforts in working with the youth and helping provide recreation programming for the community," he said. "She donates a lot of her time toward recreational programs here."

Etitiq said Carpenter’s dedication to the community was admirable.

"It’s very well deserved," he said. "She goes above and beyond."

Carpenter was originally supposed to be a temporary replacement until the hamlet replaced the outgoing recreation co-ordinator.

She said she had spent time volunteering with the old recreation co-ordinator, so she thought she would give the job a try.

"When she left there was no one really around, I was just filling in for her until they got someone else," Carpenter said. "Then they asked me to stay on. I said I would try it out for a year and see how it goes."

Fifteen years later, Carpenter said she still loves the job – with a few minor exceptions.

"The only thing I don’t really like is so much paperwork after a while," she said. "I would rather just run around and be with the kids and have fun."

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