Gwen K. Healey Akearok, co-founder of Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, holds a cardboard model of the Inuusirvik Community Wellness Hub prior to its opening, in this file photo. (Photo by Corey Laroque)
‘It’s nice to be recognized’: business leaders honoured with achievement awards
Qikiqtani Business Achievement Awards took place Sept. 20 in Iqaluit
An organization that provides advanced driving lessons to Nunavummiut and the co-founder of an Inuit health research organization are among those who were honoured at this year’s Qikiqtani Business Achievement Awards.
The awards were presented Sept. 20 during the Nunavut Trade Show in Iqaluit.
The recipients were:
- Business of the Year — Baffin Business Development Corp.
- Businessperson of the Year — Dr. Gwen Healey Akearok, co-founder of Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre
- Lifetime Achievement — Brian Twerdin and Elisapee Sheutiapik
- Special Achievement — Arctic Training Ltd.
- Volunteer of the Year — Ranbir Hundal
Akearok expressed joy about her nomination and subsequent win.
“I didn’t know I’d been nominated,” she said.
Akearok, who is an epidemiologist with a doctorate in public health, co-founded Qaujigiartiit in 2006.
The Inuusirvik Community Wellness Hub, which Qaujigiartiit will run to provide various mental wellness services, is set to open soon.
Paul Dainton, CEO of Arctic Training Ltd., added it’s nice to be recognized with an award.
Dainton’s organization provides several different training courses around Nunavut for skills such as mechanics, heavy equipment operation, driving, first aid and firearms safety.
“I think by forming partnerships and working well as a team is one of the reasons why we were nominated and ultimately, we won, which is an honour to have that award,” Dainton said.
“We’re going to continue to offer courses in the communities and continue to build capacity. I know that for our upcoming courses and some of the current courses, we’re anticipating pushing out about 600 drivers licences this year.”
— With files from Corey Laroque
Congrats Val Kosmenko.
Are any of the winners involved in a ‘business’?
Can someone explain why a founder of a non-profit organization is receiving a business award? I am a little bit confused. this? isn’t Qaujigairtiit a non-profit organization? Or is it a business?
I know GH has played it loose by not correcting that she is not Inuk in the past.
Of the five 2023 Qikiqtani Business Achievement Awards recipients, almost none are businesses or business owners. Is this the state of entrepreneurship in Nunavut?
Business of the Year — Baffin Business Development Corp.
– DEFINITELY not a business
Businessperson of the Year — Dr. Gwen Healey Akearok, co-founder of Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre
– DEFINITELY not a business person, nor is QHRC a business
Lifetime Achievement — Brian Twerdin and Elisapee Sheutiapik
– Respectfully, Brian (deceased) WAS a businessman and a business owner, and a fine one. Elisapee is lifetime politician
Special Achievement — Arctic Training Ltd.
– Receives nearly all of its funding from government sources AND competes directly with Nunavut Arctic College and other government-funded training institutions.
Volunteer of the Year — Ranbir Hundal
– With all due respect to volunteers, none are affiliated with BUSINESS
Indeed, the very sad state of ‘business’ in Nunavut. We have no one to give these awards to apparently, so we hand them out to organizations loosely affiliated with business, if at all, and entirely funded by the government.