Francophone group signs tourism deal with Kimmirut

A new Iqaluit-based francophone organization called Carrefour Nunavut announced July 12 that it’s signed a deal with the tourism committee of Kimmirut to promote tourism in the community.

The goal of this agreement is to help people there to make the most of cruise ship visits to Kimmirut, says Carrefour Nunavut.

“People in Kimmirut are warm and enthusiastic, and eager to provide a first-class welcome,” said Dominique Husereau, the new managing director at Carrefour Nunavut, in the organization’s blog at http://www.fivespirit.eu/carrefournunavu/.

Carrefour Nunavut also visited Igloolik to scout out interest for a similar deal on developing the tourism industry.

Carrefour Nunavut, a non-profit group which elected its first board of directors last January, has taken over all the economic projects formerly managed by the Association des francophones de Nunavut in Iqaluit.

Among other projects, Carrefour Nunavut wants to transform the AFN’s former outfitting company, Odysséé Nunavut, into a co-operative association to develop sustainable, community-based tourism projects.

These could include home-stays and workshops on the flora and fauna of Nunavut, suggests the organization’s blog.

To set up the new co-op, Carrefour Nunavut received $30,000 from the federal Secretary of State last April.

Carrefour Nunavut also received $170,000 from CanNor for cultural tourism development and $175,000 to kick-start planning for a multi-purpose building facility.

Located in downtown Iqaluit, this building would include:

• a business and information centre;
• a restaurant and catering business;
• a centre for training and counseling;
• a centre for services in French;
• a community space, and
• a multi-functional hall.

The training centre would provide people with skills development in the hospitality and tourism sector, as well as an opportunity to learn the French language.
Carrefour Nunavut also plans to incorporate green energy alternatives into the building, says a CanNor backgrounder on the project.