New director takes the reins at Nunavik regional health centre

Former Makivik Corp. secretary and business owner George Berthe is the new executive director of Tulattavik health centre in Kuujjuaq. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

The Tulattavik health centre in Kuujjuaq has a new executive director, George Berthe, who was appointed to the job Oct. 6.

Kuujjuaq-based Berthe brings a lengthy resumé of experience to the position; he served as president of Taqramiut Nipingat Inc., as corporate secretary to Makivik Corp., he was a business owner, and more recently he was interim president of the Kativik Municipal Housing Bureau.

Tulattavik, which provides health and social services to the seven communities along Nunavik’s Ungava coast, has been looking for a director since last spring, when former director Madge Pomerleau retired from the position.

Since April 2015, Jacques Poliquin has served as the centre’s interim director.

Over the past year, the centre’s administrators concentrated on helping the centre climb out from an $8.1-million accumulated deficit.

The hospital balanced its budget for 2015-16, while it continues to pay off the multi-million dollar deficit.