Annual Rotary Fall Fair returns to the AWG after one year absence

On Saturday, September 25, 2010 the Rotary Fall Fair made a triumphant return to the Arctic Winter Games Arena in Iqaluit. It was not able to be held last year due to renovations taking place at the AWG.

The Fair is run annually by the members of Iqaluit Rotary Club with assistance from approximately 30 community volunteers (friends of Rotary) as well as another 25 Inuksuk High School Students. The event is primarily held for the children of the community with the emphasis placed on having fun, playing games of skill and chance, eating good food and creating lots and lots of winners!!!

Long line ups were common for most games, especially the lollipop tree, typhoon tycoon, penguin fish fling, bullseye and of course the balloon splash game. Children and parents were very patient while waiting to play and many proud parents were seen snapping photos of their children enjoying the event.

The balloon splash featured local ‘celebrities’ such as high school principal Terry Young and Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak volunteering to sit beneath a balloon full of water while contestants, old and young alike, threw water logged balls at a circular target. When struck, the balloon burst and soaked the person sitting underneath. This booth was run primarily by the graduating class of Inuksuk High and raised $1,000.00 for the grads to go towards their high school graduation celebrations at the end of the school year. The grads and our many ‘friends of Rotary’ were also responsible for running most of the other games booths at the Fair and giving out all the prizes.

In all, a total of 3200 stuffed animals of varying sizes were handed out, hundreds of french fries and hot dogs were consumed, and many children returned home with handfuls of toys under their arms and huge smiles on their faces!

The Rotary Club of Iqaluit would like to thank the many friends of Rotary, the Inuksuk High School Grads and all the volunteers/victims for the balloon splash for making this year’s version of the Rotary Fall Fair so successful. Plans are already under way to make the 2011 version even better.