Major renovations for Iqaluit Housing Authority

CHARLOTTE PETRIE

Kelvin Ng, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, announced the appointment of a new board of directors for the Iqaluit Housing Authority last week. The appointments took effect April 1.

Surprised by a news release naming her as chair of the board, Susan Gardener said she put her name forward to serve on the board because she felt she could contribute in some way, being a long-term northerner and homeowner.

“It’s a new area for me, but I think having lived here for quite a while will help me a great deal. Knowing Inuktitut fluently will also help,” she remarked.

Gardener has been the director of finance and administration for the Nunavut Employees’ Union for the past two and a half years.

Other members of the board include Pauline Alainga, David Angrove, Steven Birrell, Annie Joannie, Simon Nattaq and Geosah Uniuqsarak.

“I feel very honoured [to be chair]. I think we’ll work well together as a team,” Gardener said.

Gardener said she won’t know the full extent of her duties as chair until she attends an orientation session April 30 aimed at bringing all the members up to speed on the board’s responsibilities and their individual roles as directors.

“[My current job] will really help. We have monthly teleconferences or face-to-face executive board meetings,” she added.

The new board replaces the interim board, which was appointed in February after the original board members resigned over a dispute with Ng.

After firing authority manager Susan Spring, the board was ordered by Ng to have her reinstated. Ng threatened to dissolve the board if it did not heed his instructions. The board instead beat Ng to the punch, and resigned in protest.