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KIVALLIQ
Kivalliqmiut rang in the new year throughout the region this past week and residents shared their hopes with Kivalliq News.

Justin Merritt: Hopes 2013 will see a new arena announced for Rankin Inlet. Chris Jones: Hopes to get more girls involved with hockey in the community of Whale Cove.

Rankin Inlet's Justin Merritt said getting a new arena for the community is one of his hopes for the new year.

Residents were disappointed in 2011 after the Government of Nunavut decided against a $500,000 feasibility study for a new recreation complex.

Merritt said he hopes the decision can be turned around in 2013.

"I'm hoping our Nunavut government will follow through and we'll get an announcement for a new arena for Rankin Inlet," said Merritt.

"Hopefully that happens.

"I think the whole community will be excited about that."

Chris Jones of Whale Cove also has high hopes for sports.

He said the community aims to get more girls involved in hockey.

"We have a couple really good girls that have been playing with atoms and peewees," said Jones.

"They have improved quite a bit and they've started to get their friends involved.

"We were hoping to have their own team this year."

Jones said getting serious about soccer is another ambition.

Whale Cove's 16-and-under soccer team competed for the first time against other Kivalliq teams in a tournament in Rankin Inlet this past month.

Jones said the team did well.

"They surprised everybody."

He credited teachers and community members for helping establish the soccer team and other sports.

"The athletes here are pretty good, but they never really had organized sports before," said Jones.

"We're just trying to get more stuff going."

In Coral Harbour, Tessa Angootealuk said she has a personal goal.

She said she would like to take the office administration program at Nunavut Arctic College.

While she doesn't have a particular job in mind, she would like to work in an office within the community.

Angootealuk said she would also like her family to get together more often this year.

She estimated she has 300 family members spread across Nunavut.

"They're all over Nunavut, so it's kind of hard to get together," said Angootealuk.

"It would be good to have more family gatherings and more family reunions."

Arviat's Evan Pemik said spending more time with family is one of his aspirations for the new year.

"To focus more on my family and to help them more throughout the year,"said Pemik.

Pemik also said he wants 2013's square dances to last a bit longer than they do now.

"I hope there are square dances all night."

Larry Blake, who was passing through the community while working for the Northern store, said his goal for 2013 is to find a place in the North to love where he can snowmobile in soft snow surrounded by trees.

He said he also wants to try to do more to keep physically active.

"Up here, it's harder to keep fit with the longer nighttime hours," said Blake.

For now, Blake said his immediate goal is to quit drinking so many Red Bull energy drinks.

"It doesn't give you wings, but it does keep you up longer."

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