Arctic Bay elders remember Rev. Jack Turner with new memorial
People in Arctic Bay, Nunavut are remembering the life of minister who established mission in Moffet Inlet more than 70 years ago.
Rev. Jack Turner was a priest who worked in Pond Inlet and then later in Moffet Inlet in the 30s and 40s. He opened the Anglican mission December 3, 1937.
A group from Arctic Bay travelled about 80 kilometres by snowmobile and qamutik to the Inlet last week to unveil a plaque commission by by the community in Turner's honour. The group included 94-year-old Qaapik Attagutsiak.
Rev. Darren McCartney, is the Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of the Arctic. He was part of the group that celebrated the new memorial. He says elders remember Turner with affection and shared stories about his life.
"He had a genuine love for the people and they reciprocated that, they loved him. Obviously he was a minister be he was also a qualified pharmacist and he would have helped people in that way too. Medically as well."
McCartney says Turner initially moved to the area to work on translations. He says Moffet Inlet was a meeting place for people and Turner also travelled a great deal.
"There's maps of some of the distances he travelled. 2400 kilometres by dog team. A lot of he did on his own, which is kind of unique because many clergy, many ministers were accompanied by Inuit friends or companions on the trail."
Turned died in 1947 at the age of 42. McCartney says the fond memories people still have are a testament to the impact he had on people.
