Iqaluit conference a chance for young mayors to learn leadership skills
Nunavut Association of Municipalities annual general meetings ongoing this week
Masako Kittosuk, 18, is Sanikiluaq’s newly elected mayor. She says she’s been taking a lot of notes at this week’s Nunavut Association of Municipalities annual general meetings in Iqaluit. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Masako Kittosuk — Sanikiluaq’s newly elected 18-year-old mayor — could be seen attentively taking notes Tuesday during professional development sessions at the Nunavut Association of Municipalities annual general meeting in Iqaluit.
While short in stature, Kittosuk stands out at the conference which is attended largely by older men with grey hair.
“I met a lot of mayors [from] all around Nunavut, they are so proud of me because I’m the youngest,” said Kittosuk, in a soft-spoken tone.
She was elected in October, winning a two-way race for mayor. Initially, no candidates in Sanikiluaq signed up for the first call for candidates, so a second call was issued the following week.
Since taking office, Kittosuk said she has been receiving support from her colleagues on council and community members as she learns the ropes of her new job.
“I wanted to become a mayor because I want to help people,” she said.
“I was so excited that I was elected.”
Kittosuk said she learned a lot in the professional development sessions. When she has time, she said, she wants to review the many pages of notes she’s been taking.
Attending the event in Nunavut’s capital has been a totally new experience for the young mayor.
“It’s my first time here in Iqaluit,” she said.
Not having spent much time outside her home community, she described Iqaluit as “so big.”
Kittosuk is not the only youthful mayor taking in the meetings.
Oliver Shipton, Whale Cove’s 26-year-old newly elected mayor, said he’s trying to pick up on as much training as possible.
Originally from Huntsville, Ont., Shipton moved to Whale Cove to pursue a career as a wildlife officer. He said he ran for mayor because he wanted to make a change in a community that welcomed him four years ago.
“I think this is super-useful information on the operations of the hamlet, the roles as the mayor and the [senior administrative officer],” he said.
“There’s always learning to do in this position, and I think it never stops.”
Baker Lake Mayor Kevin Iksiktaaryuk, left, and Whale Cove Mayor Oliver Shipton listen and take notes during professional development session at the Nunavut Association of Municipalities annual general meeting in Iqaluit. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Shipton said he’s looking forward to bringing translated recorded versions of the keynote speakers’ addresses back to his council colleagues so they can also learn.
Kevin Iksiktaaryuk, elected to his first term as mayor of Baker Lake last month after two terms on council, said he and his colleagues have already had conversations about running a transparent, productive council.
The training sessions have been useful in getting Nunavut’s other mayors on the same page, he said.
“It’s good to hear it kind of on this scale, with all of the other mayors and senior administrative officers around,” he said.
“We have a good group of mayors here; a lot of new mayors, but from the conversations that I’ve had it’s all been very positive and forward-looking to work for the people in our communities.”
Hope Masako Kittosuk and the others have a great time here!
It’s called a free vacation 😂 young or old nothing gonna change 🤣 free trip on taxpayers dime!!!
Quit being bitter. These are the future leaders of the territory. Give them a chance to prove themselves.
Does the laugh at everything and be negative shtick ever get tiring for you? It gets tiring for me.
I’m here forever 🤣 my $$ I voted I can complain all I want!!!!!!’
And that’s probably about all you’ll do. Typical.
Can you do better
If people knew how to vote the right people in instead of hey that’s my family or whatever then things might actually change 🤔
Contact me in 2 years see if anything will happen
I bet you any money on earth 🌍 we’ll going backwards
Things to watch out as elected Councilors.
– The Councilors (conflict of interest) i.e. households, or operating a Corporate Business
– Roles & responsibility of Councilor i.e. 3 or 5 different hats in various pay-check-to cheque? This flags a signal how system is monopolized in remote Municipalities when a few number of elected PUBLIC SERVICE take advantage of public funds.
– Corporate business operating Office located in south, and not aware how system is broken in terms as JOB description under the NOSE of EXECUTIVE’s.
Notice the broken system in remote Municipalities!?!