OTTAWA, December 18, 2015 Today at Pitakallak School, a primary school in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, Linda Brand, from the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and legendary Inuit bush pilot, Johnny May, along with the book’s translator, Ida Saunders, and Senator Charlie Watt launched an illustrated children’s storybook entitled The Kuujjuaq Christmas Candy Drop.
Published in English, French, and Inuktitut, the storybook honours an Inuit Christmas tradition — the candy drop. Through lyrical poem, author Linda Brand tells the story of this beloved tradition, and at the same time recounts the story of Johnny May. The candy drop was originally performed from a rooftop by Mr May’s father, and for the past 50 years Johnny May has graciously continued the tradition, flying low over the town to drop candy and presents to all.
Thanks to a generous partnership with Air Inuit, the book is being delivered to all classrooms in Nunavik.
Johnny May, who was inducted into Le Panthéon de l’Air et de l’Espace du Québec in 2010, has logged over 34,000 hours of flight time, much more than most pilots, transporting supplies and people to and from the North. He is a legend and inspiration to all Inuit.
To purchase a book please visit https://boutique.techno-science.ca/en/canada-aviation-and-space-museum/729-the-kuujjuaq-christmas-candy-drop-book.html
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Contact:
Joanne Ghiz
Media Relations Officer
Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation
jghiz@techno-science.ca
613-410-5943