Carrefour Nunavut tries to move on after difficult summer

After a tumultuous summer, a Nunavut francophone economic development organization hopes it has reached a turning point with the election of a new board of directors.

“I have no more issues with [the former chairperson]. We would like to move on. If the new board wishes to do something, that is up to them,” said Francis Essebou, executive director for Carrefour Nunavut, in an interview Tuesday.

Over the summer, turmoil at Carrefour Nunavut led its membership to vote to fire its entire board of directors in August and choose an interim board.

A news release issued Monday by Carrefour Nunavut said its annual general meeting, held Friday in Iqaluit, was conducted in a respectful atmosphere with transparency, accountability and a renewed sense of purpose.

A new board of directors was elected, including Benoit Havard as chairperson; Christ Vladimir Tchapda, secretary treasurer; and board members Thierry Noutack, Louis Eric Kamdem and Isabelle Din Dika.

The news release said several recommendations adopted at Friday’s meeting mark a “turning point” for Carrefour Nunavut based on stronger governance and stable financial backing.

With 35 members, six full-time employees and a $1.3-million budget funded by the Nunavut and federal governments, Carrefour Nunavut is an economic development agency that aims to promote the business interests of French speakers in the Arctic.