‘Such good help’: Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., students receive donated winter gear

‘Such good help’: Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., students receive donated winter gear

Alberta-based charity Wild Wolves of Canada donated hundreds of coats, hoodies, and other gear

Residents in Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., lined up at Mangilaluk School Monday afternoon to pick up free winter gear, donated by an Alberta-based charity.

“Such good help, everything’s so costly now,” Raddi said.

About 250 winter jackets were distributed for students, along with hoodies, blankets and toys. The gear was provided by the Wild Wolves of Canada, a registered charity started by some motorcycle enthusiasts in Edmonton.

Grainger Thompson, one of the charity's co-ordinators, said his organization made connections with the Hunters Trappers Committee in Tuktoyaktuk. The committee’s chair told Thompson there was a need for winter clothing.

“Having kids with proper adequate clothing for the harsh Arctic climate would allow them to get out on the land and take part in some land-based learning opportunities,” Thompson said.

Grainger Thompson, who co-runs charity the Wild Wolves of Canada, said his organization hopes to expand the program that saw hundreds of winter jackets donated to students in Tuktoyaktuk. (Dez Loreen/CBC)

The winter gear donation is the first time the charity has donated coats in the North. Thompson said they’re working on plans to do more in the future.

He spoke to CBC News while in Inuvik, N.W.T., and said Wild Wolves of Canada has donated tens of thousands of pounds of food to the Inuvik Food Bank as well. He said he hoped to meet with the food bank and the town's mayor, as well as representatives for the Inuvialuit and Gwich’in First Nations while in town.

“There’s eight communities in the Beaufort Delta and we want to ensure that we’re supporting all communities who welcome and invite our support,” Thompson said.

The organization has only been incorporated federally for about a year, and Thompson said they’ve done “an enormous amount of work” with a small budget and not many people.

“It just made perfect sense as a pilot place to start [in Tuktoyaktuk], but we would love to see it expand across the entire country,” Thompson said.

Roxane Raddi, pictured here, said she's grateful for the donated winter gear. 'Everything's so costly now,' she said. (Dez Loreen/CBC)

Meanwhile, hundreds of children in Tuktoyaktuk have warm gear going into the winter, something Raddi is grateful for.

“A big thank you to all the people that have got organized and reached out,” Raddi said.

Julia Parrish is a digital associate producer at CBC North in Yellowknife. You can reach her at julia.parrish@cbc.ca