Baffin chamber executive director retires with national honour

A gold watch may be a customary retirement gift, but Chris West left his position as Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director with a King Charles III Coronation Medal.

West’s cumulative 11-year tenure as chamber executive director ended Nov. 12. He stayed with the organization to work with incoming executive director Tony Rose through planning and implementation of the first Aqsarniit Trade Show and Conference in Ottawa, which wrapped up last week.

The King Charles III Coronation Medal recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada. (Photo courtesy of MCpl/Le Cplc Matthieu Racette, Rideau Hall, OSGG-BSGG)

“It was a good first event, very positive for the future,” said West, describing the effort as Inuit-led.

“I can see that event growing to be a number-one event connecting the North. It’s all about Inuit Nunangat.”

The four-day networking and business showcase event was hatched out of a conversation between West and Andy Moorhouse, vice-president of economic development at Makivvik Corp., shortly after the demise of the long-running Northern Lights Trade Show which was permanently cancelled in August.

West cites his efforts to promote and build this new trade show and in growing its predecessor as some of his most meaningful work with the chamber.

West also maintained a steady hand at the wheel throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the Baffin business community navigate through challenging times by providing a resource for accurate information and advocacy.

Providing professional development opportunities to help expand northern businesses big and small, including independent artists, was a big focus as well.

However, West said he’s perhaps most proud of the things he did not do over the years.

“By not spending money that we didn’t have, I feel good about leaving the chamber in the financial situation that it’s in — into the black,” he said.

West moved north in 1996 to work with The North West Company. Five years later, he joined Qikiqtaaluk Corp., where he worked for 13 years.

He was involved with the chamber from day one, first as a board member, then as chair for a couple of terms, before serving as executive director from 2011 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2024.

West learned he would receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal late last year, in recognition of his work with the chamber.

“It was just such an honour to receive that call and to be nominated,” he said.

“It’s not about me. I was paid to do a job and it’s the chamber that owns it.”

West has joined his wife, Maria West, who had already retired from a 25-year career in human resources with the Government of Nunavut, to share their next chapter as grandparents in Ottawa.