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INUVIK
Two Inuvik organizations have made it into the semifinals of the Aviva Community Fund competition.

Singer songwriter Leela Gilday leads children in singing her song One Drum as part of a video for the Children First Centre in the East 3 gym on Nov. 26. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

The Children First Society made it into the semifinals after competing in the $50,000 category and Arctic Paws, competing in the $100,000 category, cruised into the semifinals after the most recent round of voting ended Nov. 25.

On Nov. 26, the Children First Society was preparing to enter the next round of voting by shooting a video and documenting some more of the faces that would benefit from $50,000 for new playground equipment, designed for toddlers up to school-age children.

Singer songwriter Leela Gilday, was in town as part of the Blues in the Schools program, and when asked if she would contribute the use of her song One Drum to the cause, she agreed. She also volunteered to be part of the video and sing it with the children.

"We do plan on opening the centre in September," said Melinda Gillis, chair of the Children's First Society and a Town of Inuvik councillor.

"With Aviva (an insurance company), they like to get to know the community and shooting the video was one way of doing that. It's hard to put everything we're about into words," Gillis said.

The video has Gilday standing in the middle of a circle of children of all ages, singing One Drum. Gradually, the children join in, waving posters and flyers advertising the upcoming semifinal voting period.

"We made it into the finals last year and they loved our program last year," said Paula Guy, director of the Children's First Society.

"They asked us to resubmit so we narrowed our focus. We've never had a playground for really young kids and our new one will be for children 12 months to 12 years."

Gilday said she didn't hesitate when asked to be in the video.

"I met (Guy) last year when I was doing Blues in the Schools and posted the voting online through my fan page. The kids are just so sweet and there's a lot of committed people involved," said Gilday. "I hope I can give them a boost."

Even if the Children First Centre project doesn't make it into the finals, Gillis said she's confident the work that's been done has helped at least raise awareness for the cause.

"People see our building and think we're done but there's so much more left to do," she said. "I think it's important that people volunteer. It makes the community stronger."

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