Photo: Community leaders receive Canada 150 medals

If it was a year late, two deserving community leaders in Iqaluit didn’t seem to mind. Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson presented Canada 150 medals to Iqalungmiut Heather Daley and Ann Meekitjuk Hanson for the “history of volunteerism and hard work they contributed to bettering their community,” during a public consultation in Iqaluit, Feb. 11. Hanson (pictured above), who was appointed as Nunavut’s third commissioner in 2005, said “it was so appropriate” that both she and Daley received the awards together, because of their shared passion for promoting Inuktitut music. “My connection with Nunavut will be forever,” said Daley, who will step down as the Alianait Music Festival director at the end of the year. Hanson and Daley were unable to attend the official medal ceremony when it was held in Ottawa last November. “We’re a little late but I’m delighted to present these medals to worthy citizens of Nunavut,” Patterson said. (PHOTO BY STEVE DUCHARME)