UQSUQTUUQ/GJOA HAVEN
The hamlet of Gjoa Haven on King William Island made it to eighth place on the list of top 20 best spots in Canada to visit in 2016, according to a website which touts itself as the leading source of Canadian travel destinations.

The original bell from the HMS Erebus is preserved in Ottawa but the Nattilik Heritage Centre in Gjoa Haven was given a printed 3-D replica for tourists to admire. - photo courtesy of Parks Canada

"With the discovery of Erebus and the worldwide attention that came with it, Arctic travel has never been more exciting or accessible. This location oozes maritime history but, unlike Halifax or Quebec City, Gjoa Haven touches on a part of history that goes back before Canada even existed," states vacay.ca's writing and editorial team.

Gjoa Haven Mayor Joanni Sallerina was surprised and honoured by the news.

Already tourists are arriving in droves and Gjoa Haven is proving up to the task, spiffing up the two-year-old Nattilik Heritage Centre with a replica of a Franklin artifact.

"We have the bell that was given to the community," said Sallerina.

The bell is a printed 3-D replica of the one from the HMS Erebus. The original is being carefully conserved in Ottawa.

"We're hoping to receive more artifacts as the year goes on."

As vaycay.ca notes: "HMS Erebus is now protected through designation as a National Historic Site and is currently closed for visitation while archaeological research is conducted. Visitors to Gjoa Haven can experience the Nattilik Heritage Centre, where a small exhibit and interpretation of the Franklin voyage is provided."

The missing ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, under the command of Sir John Franklin, continued to draw searchers beguiled by the unfortunate but unforgotten 1845 attempt at the Northwest Passage. Perhaps none would be as tenacious as Stephen Harper during his tenure as prime minister. He poured a reported $2.8 million of taxpayer money into the search, not including a $7.2 million ad campaign about the explorer.

All of this may have contributed to the approximately 6,700 visitors to Gjoa Haven last summer.

Sallerina says most of those visitors come by cruise ship, although the occasional intrepid traveller will arrive by plane.

Alongside vacay.ca lavishing attention on the community, Canadian Geographic showcased Gjoa Haven historian Louie Kamookak, now quite well known for his contribution to the discovery of the HMS Erebus in September 2014 via his 20-year oral history project,. He is on the cover of the magazine's January/February edition.

When Harper visited Iqaluit Aug. 14 on the campaign trail ahead of the Oct. 19 federal election, he promised a Franklin Centre to the hamlet of Gjoa Haven. That centre is a lingering dream for Sallerina. He hopes discussions can take place with the current Liberal government.

Either way, the hamlet will continue to develop its Franklin exhibit and explore the possibility of building an extension on the heritage centre if a standalone building is not on offer.

When tourists pass through, they are treated to traditional feasts and performances. They also have the option to walk the Northwest Passage Territorial Trail, "an informative walking tour that describes the quest of dozens of European explorers to find the Northwest Passage and to locate any trace of the lost Franklin expedition," states Nunavut Tourism.

As Sallerina notes, Franklin is not the only explorer of note. Gjoa Haven is named after Roald Amundsen's ship, the Gjoa. The Norwegian explorer formed a special relationship with the Netsilik Inuit and that relationship continues today between the community and Norway.

On the mainland, a boat ride away, visitors can also take in the Ahiak (Queen Maud Gulf) Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary, states Environment Canada, covers 62,920 square km of contiguous land and sea, making it the largest protected area in Canada.

The economic benefits of being an historic hot spot have yet to bear fruit, though, Sallerina said.

"Unfortunately, (the tourists) do spend their money before they get here. We aren't the first stop," he said.

However, he adds, "We're just excited about giving information about our history. We have a lot of history in the community."