OTTAWA
Being alone in a foreign city is a challenge that can loom especially large during the holidays, even more so when you're away from your friends and loved ones.

Larga Baffin Ltd., a boarding home for Inuit who travel to Ottawa for medical services, will have an estimated 30 to 40 residents over the holidays. - photo courtesy of Trudy Metcalfe-Coe

For some Nunavummiut, it's a reality that can't be helped.

Between 35 and 40 people will spend Christmas at Larga Baffin Ltd., a boarding home for Inuit who travel to Ottawa for medical services.

The facility provides accomodations, travel arrangements and needs for its visitors, some of whom are accompanied by escorts and some who are by themselves.

Myna Akavak of Kimmirut has been at Larga since August, although she can't remember the exact date because she was medevaced to Ottawa from her community.

The holidays won't be quite so lonely for her since her son has been spending time with her in Ottawa, and her husband is scheduled to visit on Dec. 23.

She likes the facility because of the support she receives from staff.

"I like it here because people are always available," she said.

"I've met a lot of people here and I see people I haven't seen in a long time. Even though I'll miss my kids, right now I don't have a choice.

Akavak has three children in Kimmirut but hasn't been given the green light to go back just yet. She has to stay in Ottawa to receive more treatment.

"I want to wish everyone Merry Christmas, especially my family and friends, and all the people that we know," she said. "I'll see them when it's time for me to go back."

Since moving to a bigger residence in 2009, the centre typically has more than 100 people per night, and that number has even gone up to 150.

Larga Baffin general manager Trudy Metcalfe-Coe said 35 to 40 people over the holidays is a lot.

"We always hope that people can get to go home," she said. "Ideally they can be with their families. If a doctor says a patient can't travel, that's the reality – having to continue the battle over Christmas is especially hard."

Metcalfe-Coe said staff are always finding things for residents to do, and the holidays are no different. There is a Christmas dinner, an evening of games, gift giving and other planned activities.

"We keep looking for things to do to keep the doldrums away," she said. "The reality is that we'll always have a number of people here. We do what we can to make what we can of Christmas."

On Oct. 3, Philippa Ootowak travelled more than 3,000 kilometres – the distance between her home of Pond Inlet and Ottawa – to escort her husband for his medical treatment.

Thankfully, the couple's two daughters live and study in Ottawa, making it easier to see them on a regular basis.

"The bright side is that we get to see our grandchildren," she said. "We're quite enjoying it here, it's not as cold as it is in Pond Inlet. You get used to Christmas in the dark, though, so it's strange to have so much light here over Christmas. It makes my husband a bit more homesick."

Ootowak, originally from England, has spent more than 40 years in Nunavut. This is her first Christmas spent in the south.

She said it's hard being there while her relatives are so far away, but they keep in touch via telephone and e-mail.

"There are lots of things happening here (at Larga)," she said. "There is a real family atmosphere here.

"There are decorations and the tree is lit up, we had games for Halloween. We're well looked after here."

She wishes her son and mother-in-law, as well as all her family members, a very Merry Christmas.

"We're thinking of them and we know they're thinking about us," she said.

"We miss them all very much and we want them to know we're doing fine."

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