Blue Jays fan Rachel D'Cunha, from Rankin Inlet, got a surprise last month when she learned she would be spending July 30 in Toronto to watch the Canada Baseball Day game between the Jays and the L.A. Angels.
D'Cunha was nominated for the trip by her boyfriend through the Rogers' Baseball Dreams program. While at the game, she was also the Nunavut flag-bearer during special opening ceremonies at the Rogers Centre.
In an e-mail, D'Cunha said she had felt nervous about the trip but described carrying the flag as an honour.
“The experience of being a flag bearer was joyful but also overwhelming,” she wrote.
“The nerves did get to me once I was standing in the field and looked out to the crowd, but I told myself to just keep (breathing) and how awesome this opportunity really is.”
D'Cunha was one of several people in July to have a 'baseball dream made real' by Rogers.
Although it wasn't her first Blue Jays game, she said it was her favourite.
Highlights for D'Cunha included watching the Jays bounce back from a 4-10 deficit and getting a photograph from outfielder George Bell.
Northern Youth Abroad participants head for home
Youth from the Kivalliq region who took part in the Northern Youth Abroad program this summer are on their way home after seven weeks away.
According to a list from Northern Youth Abroad, participants in the 2017 program included Naujaat's Brenden Angotingoar, Charmaine Putulik and Susannah Mablik; Baker Lake's Christopher Atutuvaa and Victoria Piryuaq; and Joellen Netser from Coral Harbour.
Smoke turns Kivalliq skies brown
Skies around Rankin Inlet darkened on Aug. 15 as smoke from forest fires drifted through the area, turning the sun red and prompting a public service announcement from the territorial government.
The announcement from the Department of Health advised residents to take precautions when smoke is present and watch for symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath or light-headedness.
Tips to outlast the smoke included staying indoors with windows and doors closed, turning off air exchangers and limiting outdoor physical activity.