Quebec to bestow honour on Nunavik health board’s Minnie Grey

Minnie Grey, executive director of Nunavik’s health board, will become a member of Quebec’s Ordre national du Québec June 6 in Quebec City. (FILE PHOTO)

June 6 in Quebec City Minnie Grey, executive director of the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, will be inducted into Quebec’s “Ordre national du Quebec, the “most prestigious recognition awarded by Quebec.”

At the ceremony at the National Assembly, Grey will become a “chevalière” or knight of the order, along with 32 others who will become either knights or officers of the order.

Grey has held various positions during her career, including a previous period as regional health board’s executive director. Grey also served as head negotiator for Nunavik’s regional government.

She has chaired the committee to address youth protection services in Nunavik and continues to work to implement recommendations from the 2007 Quebec Human Rights Commission report on Nunavik children and youth.

Most recently, she was co-chair of Nunavik conference on prevention and empowerment, called “Inuusitta Makitjuumigiaqarniga — Strengthening our Lives,” to find ways of re-establishing wellness, safety and social peace within the region.

Grey is also former executive member of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, Makivik Corp. and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. She was also a member of Makivik’s education task force, which called for sweeping changes to Nunavik’s educational system in 1995.

In February 2012, she received a recognition award from the Indspire awards (formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Awards).

Previous inductees into the Ordre national du Québec from Nunavik include Senator Charlie Watt, former ITK president Mary Simon, the late language expert Taamusi Qumaq, former Kativik Regional Government chairperson Johnny Adams and former Makivik president Pita Aatami.