Co-owner looks to keep Iqaluit spa running after fire Monday
‘We’ll bounce back,’ says Patience Sibanda
Municipal enforcement officers direct traffic around a fire hose near the Nunavut Wellness Spa Monday afternoon. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
“We’ll bounce back,” a determined Patience Sibanda said Tuesday, one day after a fire destroyed the Iqaluit building that housed the Nunavut Wellness Spa which she co-owns.
“Words can’t describe [it],” she said of the loss. “It’s a horrible feeling. You just never expect it.”
Firefighters responded to the fire late Monday morning and remained on scene late into the afternoon.
The building sustained significant smoke and water damage and after an inspection it has been deemed structurally unsound, according to City of Iqaluit spokesperson Aleksey Cameron.
No injuries were reported, she said, adding no cause has been determined yet for the fire at the commercial property.
Iqaluit firefighters responded to a fire late Monday morning in the upper floor of a building which houses the Nunavut Wellness Spa. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Sibanda said she is looking for another building in Iqaluit so the spa can continue operating.
The services it provides, such as massage therapy, are needed and she’s worried for her employees who depend on the spa for their livelihood.
“Shutting our doors is not an option,” Sibanda said.
While she looks to get the business back on its feet, there has been support from the community.
The Nunavut Black Business Association, of which Sibanda is vice-president, posted on social media seeking financial support to help her find a location for the spa and to get new equipment.
Abdoul-Rahim Diakite, the association’s treasurer and secretary, said while insurance helps with costs of a fire it never covers all the losses.
Diakite said this type of fundraising and awareness is one way the association can support Black-owned businesses in Nunavut.
“This is not the first time our community has faced a fire and we’ve always emerged stronger,” he said.
“We’ve always seen how the community comes together.”
Sibanda, who is also co-founder of the newly opened Apex Emergency Food Bank, said her business is receiving many supportive messages from the community.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “The support is overwhelming.”
Can I ask why there is a “Nunavut Black Business Association” when there is an Iqaluit Chamber of Commerce and a Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce?
Identity politics.
The Nunavut Black Business Association serves a distinct purpose alongside the Nunavut and Iqaluit Chamber of Commerce, despite all being business-oriented organizations.
Nunavut Chamber of Commerce:
– The Nunavut Chamber of Commerce is a well-established organization that represents businesses across the region. Its primary focus is to foster economic growth, advocate for business interests, and create a conducive environment for commerce.
– It brings together a diverse range of businesses, regardless of ownership, ethnicity, or background.
– The chamber collaborates with government bodies, facilitates networking opportunities, and provides resources to enhance business operations.
– Its scope extends beyond specific demographics and aims to benefit the entire business community in Nunavut.
Nunavut Black Business Association:
– The Nunavut Black Business Association caters specifically to Black-owned businesses within Nunavut.
– Here are some reasons why it exists:
– Representation and Advocacy: It advocates for the unique needs and challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs. By focusing on this demographic, it ensures that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
– Support and Networking: The association provides a platform for Black business owners to connect, share experiences, and collaborate. Networking within a community that understands shared experiences can be invaluable.
– Financial Assistance: In cases like the recent fire that affected the Nunavut Wellness Spa, the association seeks financial support to help businesses recover. Insurance may not cover all losses, and community fundraising becomes crucial.
– Empowerment: By supporting Black-owned businesses, the association contributes to economic empowerment and self-sufficiency within the Black community.
– Awareness and Visibility: It raises awareness about Black businesses, their contributions, and the challenges they face. This visibility can lead to increased support and opportunities.
– Resilience: The association recognizes that adversity, such as fires or other setbacks, can be overcome through community support and resilience. It draws strength from the community’s unity and determination.
The Nunavut Black Business Association focuses specifically on supporting and uplifting Black-owned businesses, ensuring their unique needs are met and fostering a sense of community among Black entrepreneurs in Nunavut.
soooooo basically you are here to make money like a colonized mind but not help what inuit go through tough times as well.
We all go through tough times.
Why you are welcomed here in Nunavut?? i dont know i say this cause you guys sound like inconsiderate people that help your own. Don’t call it Nunavut Black,
Call it OUTSIDERS black business.
I now rearly go out it’s another way to stay up-to-date with the news, I don’t listen to the radio cause of my earing aids the volume is never the same. I rather read than listen