Association des francophones du Nunavut getting out of the red

Iqaluit resident Claude Martel enjoys tire d’érable — or sugar on snow — at the francophone centre in Iqaluit at a May 6 sugar shack event. The event attracted nearly 100 people, who ate a brunch of brunch of eggs, sausages and baked beans and listened to live music performed in French and English by the Coffee House Band. (PHOTO BY DAVID MURPHY)

The Association des francophones du Nunavut hosted a traditional Sugar Shack on May 6, featuring maple syrup mixed with snow and a brunch — an annual event the organization looks to continue after recent financial difficulties.

The association is selling two houses to pay off an estimated $125,000 in long-term debt owed to Heritage Canada, and to pay off other debts accumulated as well.

The current president of the Association des francophones du Nunavut, Eric Cormeau, says the financial situation may be causing some difficulties, but it’s under control.

“We have lots of assets to cover off those debts and that’s what we’re trying to liquidate,” said Cormeau.

But long-time member Claude Martel, 54, says getting rid of the houses is going to hurt the organization.

“When you lose [the houses], it’s like putting a stick in the wheel,” said Martel, who arrived in Iqaluit from Quebec when he was 17, and has been a member for 25 years.

Both houses used to be reserved for staff, but have recently been rented out to businesses. They are being sold at $400,000 each, meaning the Association des francophones du Nunavut will have money in its pockets after the sale.

The long-term debt appeared after Heritage Canada did an audit, but Cormeau sees no reason to blame anyone for it.

“They found some inconsistencies in some of the reporting that was done and requested the money be reimbursed,” said Cormeau. “To play the blame game, goes beyond what I want to be doing. I just want to move on.”

“It will help us move forward,” he said of the money left over after selling the houses. “The association has been in Nunavut for 30 years, and it’ll be in Nunavut for another 30, without a doubt.”

In fact, Cormeau says the association’s radio station, CFRT 107.3, is the “most vibrant” he’s ever seen it in the past five years, and says they hope to make a net profit of $100,000 through sponsors and advertisement.

The organization also turns out a twice-monthly newspaper called Le Nunavoix.

Iqaluit is home to 350 mother tongue francophones according to 2006 Census data, 92 of whom turned up at the Sugar Shack on May 6.

The Québécois delicacy, tire d’érable, — or sugar on snow — was served at the Franco-Centre in Iqaluit, as well as the traditional sugar brunch of eggs, sausages and baked beans.

“This is the real deal,” said Vincent Desrosiers of the tire d’érable. “When you have it on snow, it’s the real deal. And it came from Quebec so it makes me feel like I’m at home.”

There was also live music played in French and English by the Coffee House Band.