INUVIK
The Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre was the site for the mother of all parties May 10.

Neveah Hicks and her mother Nicolinea Minakis were enjoying the Mother's Day event at Ingamo Hall on May 10. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but women from all over town congregated at the hall to mark their day ... sans the men in their lives.

There were hotdogs and hamburgers, salads and desserts, door prizes ... and even steaks set out in an impressive spread that meant the mothers didn't have to cook.

The scent of the food cooking on a barbecue was enough to put smiles on most people's faces all on its own.

Organizer Mandy Day, the Healthy Babies co-ordinator at Ingamo Hall, said the event was a co-operative effort with the youth program and elder program for the hall.

"We just wanted to celebrate being a mom with a community event to bring the community together," she said. "We wanted to have fun and just celebrate being a mom.

"We try to have an annual Mother's Day event," Day continued.

She didn't think one had been held in 2014 due to funding challenges, but it is something the hall staff try to make a priority.

Day said she was very pleased with the turnout, although the weather wasn't quite good enough to hold it in the parking lot outside as planned.

The weather improved later in the afternoon.

"It's really nice the friendship centre honours mothers," said Janine Blake, also at the event. "It's really nice they prepare a meal for us and let us visit together."

She said the chance for some companionship with other mothers was one of the best features of the event for her, although the food was certainly not a negligible factor.

"Someone else's cooking is always good," she added. "And who doesn't like stuff off the grill?"

Mabel Brown said "it's always nice to find a way to get mothers and women out of the house.

"It's good to get out and talk and laugh and have a good time. And it's really good to get away from the men," she said with a wink.

"It's really important for the mothers because a lot of us are homemakers, so this draws them out and it's so good to see each other. It's going to be a good afternoon, and it's so encouraging to see something like this."

Laura Hicks added "I think it's great to see someone do something for the mothers.

"It's great to be spoiled," she added. "That's what's supposed to happen."

Glenna Gordon, who won a bouquet of roses as a door prize, said "this is a beautiful idea.

"It's something we used to do every year back home in Aklavik," she said.

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