Clyde River council appoints new councillor

Clyde River has chosen a new councillor out of a pool of four applicants.

Samiulie Iqaqrialu was scheduled to be sworn in Thursday evening during a regular council meeting in the hamlet office.

“Three other residents became interested in the position [after the vacancy was announced] and the hamlet council later decided to appoint one councillor based on experience,” said Billy Palluq, the hamlet’s assistant chief administrative officer.

That experience includes Iqaqrialu’s time as the former manager of the Naujaaraaluit Hotel. He currently works as a facility maintainer with the Department of Community and Government Services.

Palluq declined to provide the names of the other applicants.

Iqaqrialu was appointed to the hamlet council to fill a seat left vacant by former councillor Alan Cormack. The hamlet announced the vacancy on Aug. 12.

Iqaqrialu is “always running around,” said Palluq, usually at the GN office buildings in the hamlet, the health clinic or Nunavut Arctic College campus.

When asked why he applied to become a hamlet councillor, Iqaqrialu explained that he loves to work with people.

“I thought I could help my fellow people here and there,” he said.

The hamlet council was supposed to appoint a new member on Aug. 22 but did not reach quorum to hold a meeting.

Palluq said he hopes to assign Iqaqrialu and the other councillors to municipal committees, including finance, community economic development, and public works, after the swearing-in ceremony.

“Appointing councillors to become committee members is the next step that the hamlet council will look at,” said Palluq.