Nunavut voters choose councillors, mayors in staggered elections

Igloolik’s deputy mayor Peter Ivalu, seen here with Cambridge Bay’s mayor Jeannie Ehaloak at the Nunavut Association of Municipalities annual general meeting in November, won election for mayor Dec. 8 in Nunavut-wide hamlet elections. (PHOTO BY PETER VARGA)

Baker Lake was one of 10 communities in Nunavut to hold mayoral elections Dec. 8. Like most other hamlets, Baker Lake also held elections for half of its eight council seats. (FILE PHOTO)

Municipal elections held Dec. 8 across Nunavut’s three regions filled hamlet council seats to their normal complement, and in some places voters chose new mayors.

More than half of the territory’s council seats and mayoral positions went up for election.

Municipalities in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions sent their results in first, while Baffin communities submitted complete results to Nunavut’s department of Community and Government Services Dec. 10.

Four municipalities in the Baffin elected mayors:

• In Igloolik, deputy mayor Peter Ivalu, who was serving as interim mayor this year, won election by a sound 230 to 75 vote margin in a two-way race. He succeeds former mayor Joseph Inooya.

Igloolik voters chose five councillors from seven candidates. They are: Joana Quassa, George Auksaq, Ilisapi Angutimarik, Peter Awa, and Jeremiah Ivalu. They’ll join three sitting councillors who have one year left in their terms.

• Sanikiluaq had a busy race for mayor and four councillor spots. Frank Audla won the mayor’s position over four other candidates, with 141 votes.

Eleven councillors in Sanikiluaq ran for four council positions. Peter Novalinga, Mina Inuktaluk, Johnny Kavik, and Lucy Appaqaq won election.

• Former councillor Maliktoo Lyta was elected mayor in Kimmirut and six councillors were acclaimed: Pea Padluq, Itee Temela, Susie Onalik, Palanga Lyta, Donny Pitsiulak, and Mialiralaaq Judea.

• Grise Fiord elected Meeka Kiguktak as mayor over two other candidates. Six councillors earned seats in an 11-person race: Susie Kiguktak, Arqna Audlaluk, Laisa Watsko, Eva Muckpa, Saalia Pijamini, and Inger-Lise Christensen.

• Qikiqtarjuak mayor Mary Killiktee will keep her job through acclamation. Four councillors out of five candidates were elected: Levi Nootaralak, Olasie Koonelliusie, Morris Kuniliusee, and Allen Kooniliusie.

• Cape Dorset mayor Padlaja Qiatsuq was acclaimed. Four candidates for council were also acclaimed: Ejetsiak Temelak, Heidi Janes, Saiqula Putugu, and Bob Wortman. They will join four sitting members.

Qikiqtani’s other seven communities held elections for councillors only.

Winners and acclaimed councillors by community, as reported by the Department of Community and Government Services, are as follows:

• Arctic Bay: Nuterajuk Attagutsiaq, Julia Olayuk, Moses Oyukuluk, Olayuk Maqitarvik, Emma Oyukuluk, and Noah Qaqqasiq won in a field of 13 candidates.

• Clyde River: James Qillaq, Jayko Ashevak, Josie Enuarak, and Gordon Kautuq won by election.

• Hall Beach: Peter Kadlutsiak, Paul Haulli, David Kanatsiak, and Solomon Nasook won by election.

• Kimmirut: Pea Padluq, Itee Temela, Susie Onalik, Palanga Lyta, Donny Pitsiulak, and Mialiralaaq Judea gained council seats by acclamation.

• Pangnirtung: Sheila Kilabuk, Davidee Kooneeliusie, Meghan Mike-Murphy, and Stevie Komoartok won by election.

• Resolute Bay: Janice Kalluk, Sarah Salluviniq, Erica Condon, Martha Idlout, Tagga Manik, Timothy Kautaq, and Nancy Amarualik won by election.

• Pond Inlet: Berthe Atagootak, Jeannie Kigutak, Fiona Aglak, Mary Kataluk Primeau, Joshua Arreak, Abraham Kublu, and Cindy Angnetsiak were acclaimed to council.

Three hamlets in the Kivalliq region held mayoral races.

• In Baker Lake, Joedee Joedee won mayor’s job decisively, with 220 votes over former mayor David Aksawnee, who took 106, and third-place finisher David Simailak, who took 76.

Four councillors won after a close eight-way race, with votes ranging from just 118 to 243. They are: Thomas Anirniq, Thomas Elytook, Becky Tootoo, and Thomas Iksiraq.

• Chesterfield Inlet hosted the busiest race for mayor. Barney Aggark took the top spot over three other candidates. Six candidates were elected to council: Peter Kattegatsiak, Angeline Simik, Mark Amarok, Tony Amauyak, Jimmy Krako, and Maryann Issaluk.

• Coral Harbour’s Jackie Netser won the mayor’s position after a two-way race. The community also elected four councillors: Ronnie Ningeongan, Rhoda Angootealuk, Noah Kadlak, and Mary Matoo.

The region’s two largest communities, Rankin Inlet and Arviat, held elections for council only, mostly to fill expiring terms.

• Five councillors earned seats in an eight-way race in Arviat. The winners are: Eric Anoee Jr., Nathan Caskey, Elizabeth Issakiark, Chris Mikkeeuneak, and Peter Shamee.

• In Rankin Inlet, four councillors earned seats in a five-way race: Hamish Tatty, Selma Eccles, Sam Tutanuak, and Evan Morrison.

• Naujaat–Repulse Bay also elected four councillors: Louise Tunglilik, Dino Mablik, David Tuktudjuk, and Monty Yank.

• Whale Cove, like Naujaat, held elections for four council seats only. A 13-candidate race ended with Samuel Arualak, Sean Nipisar, Sharon Okalik, and Percy Kabloona taking councillor positions.

In the Kitikmeot, three of the region’s five communities hosted elections for mayor.

• The biggest contest in Kugaaruk finished with Stephan Inaksajak taking the top spot over five other candidates. The community also hosted a large 13-candidate contest to fill four council seats. The winners are: Jamie Ihakkaq, Jeannie Illuitok, Leona Apaktaun, and Barthelemy Nirlungayuk.

• Kugluktuk residents chose Ryan Nivingalok to take the mayor’s position by a landslide, and elected Winter Kuliktana and Larry Adjun to fill two vacant seats on council.

• Gjoa Haven’s Joanni Sallerina won a two-year term as mayor in a two-way race. The hamlet acclaimed Susie Hillier, Megan Porter and Salomie Qitsualik to three of six vacancies on council. Three of the community’s six seats remain empty.

Cambridge Bay and Taloyoak each acclaimed four councillors to fill empty seats. Cambridge Bay mayor Jeannie Ehaloak has one year remaining in her term, and Taloyoak mayor Joe Ashevak has two.

• Cambridge Bay acclaimed Sandi Gillis, Wiz Mohammed, Pam Gross and Jason Koblogina to councillor.

• Taloyoak acclaimed Bruce Holwell, Mona Igutsaq, Sonia Bolap, and Charlie Lyall to two-year terms on council.