Deputy premier urges kindness and caring on Canada Day
Iqaluit celebrations include parade, concert and and chili handout by the fire department
Nunavut Sen. Dennis Patterson tells the crowd at Iqaluit’s Canada Day ceremony, “We have more work to do to improve life for Nunavummiut but I still believe we live in the very best country in the world.” (Photo by Meral Jamal)
Rainfall and 7 C temperatures did not stop Nunavummiut, including commissioner Eva Aariak, deputy premier Pamela Gross and Sen. Dennis Patterson from attending Canada Day festivities in Iqaluit Saturday.
“Nunavut holds a special place in the fabric of our nation,” Gross said during a ceremony held in a tent set up in the Nakasuk Elementary School parking lot.
“Let us acknowledge Inuit societal values that are a testament to our wisdom, resilience and profound connection to the land, animals and environment. But most of all, to each other.”
Gross made her comments just before the start of a citizenship ceremony. She recognized people who became Canadian citizens on the day and encouraged Iqalummiut to be kind to each other and to be caring.
“May the spirit of this day inspire us to be compassionate, respectful and inclusive citizens,” Gross added.
Canada Day marks the country’s 156th anniversary since Confederation in 1867 created a new nation.
In Iqaluit, residents celebrated the day with events including a parade beginning at the AWG arena, a concert featuring performers such as violinist Tristan Alexander and cellist Rannva Simonsen, and a chili handout by the city’s fire department.
Patterson acknowledged that some people have found it hard to celebrate Canada Day in recent years — especially since most Canadians began to understand the full impact of the country’s residential schools program on Indigenous peoples.
While Patterson said, “we still have work to do on the path to reconciliation” and to improve the lives of Nunavummiut, he added, “I still believe we live in the very best country in the world.”
Nunavut's deputy premier Pamela Gross attends the concert and civic ceremony in Iqaluit as part of Canada Day festivities on Saturday. "It's my hope that this day inspires us to be compassionate, respectful and inclusive of citizens of this beautiful land we call home," she said. (Photo by Meral Jamal)
She is never in Cambridge with her Constituents and who here has seen an update about what she has fought for Cambridge and the Kitikmeot?
As usual, election promises forgotten as soon as they win the riding.
What do you expect for cambridge Bay? You should be proud that she has a seat at the cabinet table where decisions have impacts to the qitiqmiut region. Cambridge Bay has more than other communities and you should be proud of that.
Look what happened when Ms Ehaloak was in cabinet last time. Not a thing.
It was so embarrassing when she was running for re election. Her platform was practically grasping at straws trying to claim credit for other people’s work..
One of them was having the airport road resurfaced. The road.
Capital Priorities including runway resurfacing are decided first by Cabinet. She may well have made that happen. Cabinet seat are important for communities!
Not all of them. Some come directly from the Feds.
Last one decided by Cabinet was the Cambridge Bay Elders Facility which was welcome news fo us all
Which was promptly taken away and reallocated to another Region
While most Nunavut infrastructure is built with federal money (one way or another), projects are almost exclusively selected by Cabinet. With very limited exceptions, the feds only fund projects the GN applies for AND the GN only apply for projects that are Cabinet priorities.
Unfortunately when one member becomes a Minister they become cautious of what they say during the sessions and tends to speak only when asked are asked a question.
A member will never decline a seat as a Minister as that gives them the power and more pay, sadly it’s the constituents who loses their say. ?
Living in BC must mean living in the very best country in the world.
Not with this mid 30s in Salmon Arm in the past 2 weeks.
We can’t wait to get home on the 19th to head for a cool stay at our cabin
British Columbia is a beautiful place, no doubt
It would be nice if you could come back to live in our territory! Your constituents miss you!
Qimiinnarl by Tarrak (2019):
“… ᐱᕈᖅᐳᒍᑦ ᐅᕙᒍᑦ ᑲᓛᖦᖢᑕ
ᐃᓄᐊᖃᑎᒌᓂ ᓴᓇᖦᖢᑕ
ᑐᐱᓕᒃ ᐃᖦᖠᔅᓱᓕᔨᐃ
ᐅᑎᖅᓵᐳᒍᑦ ᓴᖅᓱᖢᓯ
ᐃᓄᐃ ᓂᐱᖦᖠ ᓂᐸᖅᓵᓲᑦ
ᑐᐱᖅ ᓈᒪᔪᖅ ᐴᑦ ᓂᐸᖏᖅᑳᖅᑑᑦ
ᐃᓅᒃ ᐊᖦᖥ ᐱᔅᓴᓂᓕᖅᑳᓲᖅ
ᐅᕙᒎᒐᑦᑕ ᐃᓅᓱᒃᑐᑦ ᑭᓕᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ, ᑭᓕᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ, ᑭᓕᖅᑳᖅᑐᑦ …”