T-shirt flying off shelf in Stratford to raise money to rebuild Nunavut school

A t-shirt designed by a younggirl from Nunavutto fundraisefor a school destroyed by fire has become such a hot seller at a store in Stratford, the ownercan hardly keep it on the shelves.

Proceeds from the sale of thet-shirtswill help rebuild the only school in the northern community of Kugaaruk,Nunavutthat burned down in February 2017.

• After the fire: Kugaaruk attempts to rebound after losing only school

Jackie Catania, co-owner of Treasures of Stratford, was a looking for way to honour and include Indigenous people as part of Canada's 150 celebrations. She reached out to her contacts and heard from a friend, Aaron Watson, a former Stratford residentwho now lives in Apex, just outside of Iqaluit.

Watson suggested his daughter Karena, 12, might be able to come up with an image for a t-shirt. She went to work and produced a design that has a traditional caribou positioned on a Canadian flag and a dog team displayed below it.

Aboveand below the flag, written in Inuktitut and English, is the phrase "together we can achieve more."

KarenaWatson said sheis pleased with the success of her design and the fact that it is helping to rebuild an important part of the community.

"I feel happy because schools are important, because kids need to learn. And it wouldn't be good if they weren't able to learn anything."

Orders from across the country

Catania said sales of the t-shirt haven't stopped. She's had to re-order it several times because she keeps running out of stock.

"We're getting people from every corner of the country (ordering) these T-shirts," she said. "Actors, lawyers, children's advocates, it's just overwhelming. It's very touching."

Catania estimates her store has raised around $1,500 for the rebuilding campaign and it's not over yet. "We'll just keep raising money and selling as many t-shirts as we possibly can."