Pictured above are the Rosdails, wearing their custom “Walk to Tuk” shirts, ready to take on the challenge. 

The North West Company is proud to sponsor the Walk to Tuk 2020, an annual community walking challenge where participants engage in an active winter commitment.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of this free event which promotes physical activity during the winter. Teams walk a figurative distance of Big River from Zhahti Kue (Fort Providence) to Tuktuyaaqtuuq (Tuktoyaktuk), NWT (1658km) in the two-month time frame allotted. This challenge is designed for everyone regardless of age, gender, or nationality.

Since its inaugural event in 2010, more than 22,000 people have participated. In 2019, more than 4,700 people registered to walk, representing more than 10% of the population of Northwest Territories. The Northwest Territories Recreation & Parks Association (NWTRPA) is optimistic that this number will grow.

Walk to Tuk is a good opportunity for family bonding, Indigenous language learning, and motivation for exercising. Still, it can mean a lot more to some. More than 30 members of the Rosdail family in Iowa, USA came together to participate in this challenge to honor the dream of Jay Rosdail, who passed away last summer at age 70. It was Jay’s wish to travel to Tuktuyaaqtuuq and do something out of the ordinary.

Walk to Tuk regularly holds social media contests asking participants to take pictures of their progress and share with their families and friends. This is also an effective way to increase the event’s exposure and awareness.

 “If there is one thing I’ve learned over the past decade, it is that youth love doing everything with their friends, and they LOVE posting about it. Finding a common goal and a partner or team to keep them accountable can make a huge difference,” Brianna Krekoski, NWTRPA’s Director, Active Communities shared.

The North West Company is proud to contribute towards such a creative initiative.