Our Story So Far
Wrestling was our foundation; personal development is our future.
A lifetime within the sport taught us its true value: the power to create a supportive environment where growth isn't just possible, it’s inevitable. To truly understand the impact of the Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club, one must look beyond the mat and behind the athlete, as the lifelong support network we have built for these individuals remains our most vital work.
Our wrestling mat serves as a teaching ground for more than just sport.
The Stance: Our organization wanted to create a supervised after-school program where youth could stay active and engaged in a team environment.
The Tie-Up: We soon realized our athletes wanted consistent mentorship bridging the gap between sport and life. We shifted our focus to prioritize their emotional, social, and personal well-being alongside their athletic development.
The Win: The result of our evolution is a village of support. Uniting coaches and teammates within communities across Canada on a shared journey of preparing for life.
Pillars of Personal Development
For over a decade, the Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club has developed a four-pillar approach to the long-term personal development of Inuit youth.
Social and Emotional Learning
Learning these essential values in a group setting allows youth to practice empathy and communication in real time. These shared experiences teach them how to navigate conflict and work together toward common goals. By learning to support one another, they build the solidarity needed to thrive as adults.
Cultural Resilience
Our mission is rooted in pride for Nunavut. Maintaining a presence across Canada allows us to share the vibrancy of an Arctic identity and provides a platform for our youth to tell their own stories. Cultural programming builds the resilience the next generation needs to stand strong and navigate the world with confidence.
Community Outreach
By collaborating with local leaders, we invite young people who are ready to engage and most likely to benefit from our initiatives. Our growth demonstrates that this impact is possible anywhere; it is not reserved for specific regions, but for any community that chooses to take action and champion change for their youth.
Secure Foundations
While we cannot protect youth from every challenge, we can support them through it. By modeling security, healthy relationships, and accountability, we provide a foundation for them to build upon. We offer them the safety to make mistakes and simply be kids during this vital time of self-discovery.
Our Reach Across Nunavut
Building this program locally taught us that for community work to last, it must be created by and for the people living there. True impact for Inuit youth comes from a network, not an individual.
We’ve developed a blueprint for proven programming that scales through community buy-in, not just personal effort. It’s flexible, it’s inclusive and most importantly, it’s built to outlast us, turning a shared vision into a lasting legacy that belongs to every generation that follows.
Arviat
Arviat is a coastal community in Nunavut.
Baker Lake
Baker Lake is an inland community.
Cambridge Bay
Cambridge Bay is a community on Victoria Island.
Chesterfield Inlet
Chesterfield Inlet is a small community located on the west coast of Hudson Bay.
Clyde River
Clyde River is a community on Baffin Island.
Coral Harbour
Coral Harbour is a remote community on Southampton Island.
Igloolik
Igloolik is a community located on an island in Foxe Basin.
Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet is a community on the western shore of Hudson Bay
Iqualuit
Iqualuit is the capital of Nunavut, located on Baffin Island’s southeastern coast.
Kugluktuk
Kugluktuk is a community in the Kitikmeot Region.
Pangnirtung
Pangnirtung is a community in the Qikiqtaaluk Region.
OUR VALUES
Inuuqatigiitsiarniq
Respecting others, relationships and caring for people.
Pilimmaksarniq / Pijariuqsarniq
Developing skills through observation, mentoring, practice, and effort.
Piliriqatigiinniq / Ikajuqtigiinniq
Working together for a common cause.
Pijitsirniq
Serving and providing for family and/or community.
Our History
Since the beginning of time Inuit have been wrestling. This tradition continues in Cambridge Bay, where the Wrestling Club aims to empower youth to make positive changes in their life by developing confidence, discipline and resilience.
In 2015, Chris Crooks a long-time wrestling coach with more than 35 years experience, brought two youth to the territorial Championships in Iqaluit, and that’s when Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club began. Since then, it has grown into an incorporated nonprofit registered society serving Inuit youth ages 6 to 18 across 10 Nunavut communities.
Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club started out as an after school programs to develop leadership skills such as discipline, confidence, sportsmanship, and resilience. Senior wrestlers are responsible for mentoring and assisting with the junior wrestling program, learning valuable skills like responsibility, community, and civic engagement. Giving back to the community is a theme stressed in all endeavours and activities. In the 2024/2025 school year more than 100 Inuit youth participated in the after-school program.
Select youth are chosen from the after-school program to travel, train attend workshops and compete across Canada. Over the last several years the Cambridge Bay Wrestlers have competed in two territories and 8 Provinces. In 2022 Eekeeluak Avalak from the Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club became the first athlete from Nunavut to capture a gold medal at the Canada Summer Games when he won the 52kg category in wrestling.
Presently the Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club operates a bike share program, cross country skiing program, Nuna Doctors, after school program and competitive travelling wrestling team.
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Chris Crooks
President, Coach, Mentor
Meet The Faces Behind Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club
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Chris Crooks
PRESIDENT, COACH, MENTOR
Chris Crooks, a seasoned wrestler and accomplished athlete, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as President and Coach. With a remarkable track record including multiple All-Canadian honours, CIAU medals, and national team titles, Chris's dedication to the sport is evident. Alongside his successful wrestling career, he has also contributed to event management and youth mentoring, making a positive impact in the wrestling community for over three decades.
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Paula Cziranka
VICE PRESIDENT, COACH, MENTOR
Paula Cziranka is a dedicated professional with over three decades of experience, serving as Vice President, Coach, and Mentor at the Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club. With a strong background in coaching and teaching at-risk students, she has organized events and created impactful programs, including a teen girls group. Paula's mentorship extends beyond wrestling, guiding athletes in education, conflict resolution, and making healthy choices. She has been involved in prestigious events like the 2015 Pan Am Games and organized Nunavut Wrestling Championships and Camps.
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Zachary Cziranka-Crooks
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT COACH
Zachary Cziranka-Crooks brings a wealth of athletic and leadership experience to his role as secretary and assistant coach. With a background in basketball, soccer, and track & field, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources, Zachary has dedicated the past three years to coaching and contributing to sports organizations such as being the Head Convener for the Nunavut Basketball Territorial Tournament and currently serving as the President of Nunavut Basketball.
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Loryn Evans
COACH
Muswagon is a Ininu-Iskwew (Cree Woman) from Pimicikamak (Cross Lake), Manitoba. She was born and raised on the Cross Lake Reserve. After she graduated high school she moved to Winnipeg, to further her education. As a multi-sport athlete/coach, Loryn worked alongside kids from all backgrounds-mostly Indigenous, through wrestling, soccer, basketball, badminton, and canoe/kayaking. Loryn also worked with kids/teenagers as a youth addictions counsellor in Winnipeg for 2 years. In October 2022 Loryn moved to Cambridge Bay, Nunavut to work as a full-time wrestling coach and counsellor.
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Haley Heffel
ASSISTANT COACH
Haley is a highly accomplished wrestler with national titles and multiple appearances on the Canadian national wrestling team representing the maple leaf at World Championships and Pan-American Championships. She spent her university career as a Panda at t he University of Alberta while she completed both her Bachelors of Kinesiology and then Bachelor of Education. During that time, Haley had collected multiple conference and national medals while receiving the Outstanding Wrestler award twice. Her proudest moment as a student - athlete was receiving the Kathleen Yetman Award in 2022 that is given to the highest performing athlete and student at the University of Alberta, the first UofA wrestler to receive it. Haley was the assistant Panda’s coach in the season of 2022 - 2023, helping them win a national championship. Today, she works as an elementary physical education teacher
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Isaiah Springer
Isaiah Springer and is a wrestling coach with Nunavut wrestling. His journey in wrestling started with the Cochrane Cowboys at the age of 11. He wrestled with the Cowboys for 7 years before moving to Edmonton for his grade 12 year. During his grade 12 year he attended the Vimy Ridge Academy for a rugby academy. While attending the Rugby Academy he also trained with the Edmonton wrestling club in the evenings. In 2019 he accepted a scholarship to wrestle at the University of Alberta. While competing for the bears he was a two time Can West athlete of the year and a Usport champion in 2024. He also graduated from the university in 2024 with a bachelor’s in secondary education. He has been a coach with the Edmonton wrestling club since 2018. Coaching both the 7-11 and 12-18 age groups. Through his 5 years of coaching experience he has enjoyed working with athletes and seeing them become people with strong character. Wrestling has given him the opportunity to travel all over the world. One of those places being Cambridge Bay Nunavut. The first time he went to Cambridge Bay he was the lead clinician for a week long wrestling camp. His second time visiting the community he was able to help out at both the elementary and high school. The most memorable part of both his visits was how welcoming and friendly the community was. He is very excited to be a part of this amazing community and look forward to building relationships with athletes and students he meets.