Christmas crafts attract hundreds
Inuksuk High School's annual holiday fair spotlights artists to big crowd
Dana Bowen
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 22, 2014
IQALUIT
Baked goods, prints, wreaths, parkas, jewelry, traditional crafts and more brought close to 800 people into Inuksuk High School Dec. 6. Hosting the annual Christmas Craft Fair, the event had 122 tables rented to vendors who set up an array of items, many of whom are returning from years before.
"It was definitely packed. The lineup to get in was very long," said Tess Thurber, who organized the event. "People say once you let the doors open, it's chaos."
The craft fair is held at the Iqaluit high school every year to raise funds for the graduating students' end of school year celebrations.
"It's an important event for all youth in the school," said Thurber. "It's the only major fundraiser used to fund the prom, graduation tea and graduation ceremony."
The fair includes elders, students and others who want to sell their work and get their names out there, said Thurber.
"If people wanted to do Christmas shopping they could do it all there," she said. The craft fair is also an opportunity for locals to showcase their talent and bring the community together, she said.
"It's an opportunity as a community to come and see what is available in terms of crafts, photography and food. It's just phenomenal," said Thurber.
The exact amount raised was not available, but it earned about $1,500 from ticket sales alone.
