A little trade, a lot of bureaucrats

SARA MINOGUE

An artist asked to depict Nunavut’s current economic activity could scarcely have painted a more accurate picture than the scene on display last week, in what was recently a hockey rink in Iqaluit’s Arctic Winter Games complex.

Government and land claims organizations dominated the 2004 Nunavut Trade Show, southern business interests were well-represented, and a few — but only a few — community-based businesses manned their booths.

Nonetheless, Bob Long, co-chair of the trade show and a board member of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce, calls the show “a complete success.”

The thirteenth annual trade show attracted 97 exhibitors this year. Seventeen of those were from communities outside of Iqaluit, including 12 Baffin communities, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven, making 2004 the first year that a majority of the communities were represented.

Community economic development officers from each community were given the opportunity to invite two or more local businesses to use their booths. Together, they hosted a total of 31 community-based businesses, but only some of those businesses were there to make deals.

The majority of communities invited carvers and artists to come and put their work on display. Some made sales, but in many cases, artists did not find the audience they had expected.

In previous years, the trade show has opened its doors to the public on Saturday. This year, the public day fell on a Thursday and the show closed at 3 p.m., which made it difficult for people with jobs or school-aged children to attend what could be called Iqaluit’s main business event of the year.

The total number of visitors this year was 1,100. No figures were tracked last year, but participants noted, and Long agrees, that it was much quieter. The only kids who saw the show were in controlled school groups.

One government employee regretted the decision to limit public participation, saying that the opportunity to interact with the public was a highlight of previous years, but Long defended the decision to move the public day to a Thursday.

“The focus of the trade show is several things: it’s business to business, business connecting with government, local adults connecting with businesses north and south that are in attendance, and an opportunity to talk to government face-to-face.”

Long says he’s also pleased to have school children come in as part of a controlled group.

“We did have the RCMP, the military, and all the government offices there — from a teenager’s perspective there were opportunities to consider a career and talk to people about that in those areas, not to mention certainly a lot of northern businesses that are looking for employees.”

Some communities did invite tourism outfitters, construction companies and retail businesses who were handing out brochures, posters and pins.

“They were there first of all to connect with other businesses and find new and different opportunities for buying goods and services from the south or from suppliers in Nunavut who were also present, and of course an opportunity to talk to government departments and participate in the conference sessions, which were also learning opportunities,” says Long.