Pictured above: Natasha Lemay, Northern Store Administration Manager, giving out Mr. Freeze pops at the celebration (left) and the truck representing the Northern store in the Nunavut Day parade featuring the flags of Nunavut and the North West Company (right).

The community of Arviat, NU came together as a whole to celebrate and enjoy Nunavut Day.

Nunavut Day is a public holiday across the territory, celebrated annually on July 9 to acknowledge the historic passing of Canada’s Nunavut Act in 1993. Several communities across Nunavut come together to celebrate the day – which this year marks the 29th anniversary of the passing of the act.

The Hamlet of Arviat organized various activities such as an ATV Race, a dress-up contest, plus tea and bannock-making as part of the celebration. This year’s celebration was held at the sports park in Arviat along with a community feast, games, speeches and giveaways.

A Nunavut Day parade was also organized by the Hamlet and the people of Arviat were encouraged to decorate their vehicles in their own way to honour the day. The Fire Department showed their support by leading the parade and driving with the other vehicles all way throughout the community for an hour.

The Arviat Northern store staff were happy to join the parade and celebrate alongside the community. The Northern store organized a giveaway by distributing raffle tickets and holding a draw. In total, 3 bikes and 5 $50 Northern gift cards were given away to winners. The Northern store also gave away balloons and Mr. Freeze pops to the people at the event.

Arviat Northern Store manager, Darren Price, says Arviat’s Nunavut Day celebration is an essential community event that gives people a sense of pride.

“Celebrating Nunavut Day is important because it lets us be proud to be from Nunavut. We also had a blast joining the parade,” said Price.

Spencer Remple, a Northern store employee, also joined the festivities and shared his experience and highlights of the day’s celebrations on his YouTube channel.