Population growth, infrastructure top of mind for Cambridge Bay mayoral candidates
Voters to choose from 3 candidates in Oct. 23 election; 11 people running for 8 seats on local council
Voters in Cambridge Bay will choose from three mayoral candidates in the upcoming municipal elections Oct. 23. From left: Wayne Gregory, Derek Elias and Charles Zikalala are all vying to head the hamlet. (Photos courtesy of candidates)
Leading up to Nunavut’s Oct. 23 municipal elections, Nunatsiaq News is publishing snapshots of races in the territory’s 25 communities.
On Oct. 23, voters in Cambridge Bay will choose between the current mayor, a social worker and a government IT specialist as they elect their mayor.
Incumbent Derek Elias, who previously served as deputy mayor of the hamlet when he was elected to council in 2019, is seeking his first full term as mayor.
He was appointed mayor in 2022 to replace Angulalik Pedersen, who resigned in November that year.
Elias said his top priorities as mayor would be “infrastructure growth from the community, housing, and community health and wellness.”
Aging infrastructure means there is a need for new multi-purpose buildings and improved transportation like a new fire hall and an airport runway that can accommodate larger aircraft, he said.
Elias also wants to build a launch area “to make it easier for people to launch their boats and serve bigger, cruise ships and private boats coming to Cambridge Bay during the summer season.”
Like many communities in Nunavut, there is a need for housing, Elias said.
“We’re looking at all types of housing, whether it’s social housing, housing for elders, private market housing and stuff like that because our community is growing so fast,” he said.
Continuing to support the community’s 28-day wellness program by training more local staff and lobbying for more Elders programs are ways Elias plans to address community health and wellness as mayor.
He added he wants to create a plan for the community to address the effects of climate change and propose possible solutions.
Originally from Kugluktuk, Elias has lived in Cambridge Bay since 1995. He is vice-president of the Association of Municipalities and chairs the board for the Cambridge Bay Housing Association.
Social worker and local businessman Charles Zikalala is also running to be mayor, with a focus on the community’s growing population.
He said he feels Cambridge Bay is being left behind other larger communities like Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet in terms of government financial support, despite it being an important regional hub for Kitikmeot region.
“The population is growing quite rapidly and when we look at Cambridge Bay, as much as we are very industrious and progressive, we lack a lot of important infrastructures in the community,” he said.
Zikalala cited the lack of a completed new arena for the community and challenges with water delivery as issues he wants to tackle as mayor.
He also wants to create a recycling program to reduce the waste that ends up in the community dump.
Zikalala has lived in Cambridge Bay since 2012, ran a local taxi service and driving school business, and has worked with the Kitikmeot Friendship Society as a social worker.
“I believe that I am a strong advocate when it comes to program development and implementation. I have a strong understanding of economics, business development and growth, and how to make sure that local businesses are able to fairly grow,” he said.
“I am a person that believes in collaborative leadership, and I believe that the way the community needs to be transformed requires the voices of Cambridge Bay residents so we can build the community together.”
Current hamlet councillor Wayne Gregory rounds out the pool of three mayoral candidates.
Gregory works as a regional information technology manager for the Government of Nunavut and volunteers with the local fire department, has experience in radio broadcasting and chairs the recreation committee.
“I would like to bring unity to the community by being a visible, honest and committed leader that will listen to the people,” he said.
Gregory has called Cambridge Bay home for nearly a decade and said his priorities as mayor would to address homelessness, food insecurity, suicide prevention, and mental health and community safety and security.
“As a very active member of the fire department and ambulance team, I am very concerned and advocate for the safety of the community,” he said.
Cambridge Bay voters will also have a chance to elect a new eight-member hamlet council from a pool of 11 candidates: Darren Etibloena, Stephanie Taptuna, Bessie Haomik Joy, Vivienne Aknavigak, Dana Langille, Sandi Gillis, Zachary Cziranka-Crooks, Jessie Lyall, Bo Wallenius, William Palvialok and Wilfred Wilcox.
All five candidates for the local district education authority are acclaimed: Alan Sim, Chris Crooks, Cory Baker, Adrian Nocon and Mark Slatter.
3 candidates, but not a single candidate actually from Cambridge Bay. Sad!
Why does it matter where they’re from?
Is that a shot towards those running, or those who aren’t running. Its clear by these profiles, all 3 are community members, unlike the way you are acting.
Elected Mayors of Cambridge Bay:
Keith Peterson 2000-2003
Terry McCallum 2003-2006
Michelle Gillis 2006-2009
Syd Glawson 2009-2011
Jeannie Ehaloak 2011-2017
Pam Gross 2017-2021
Seems people in Cambridge Bay aren’t as concerned as the mayor being “from” there as you seem to be.
Ziggy tried starting a bus service in Cambridge Bay. How’d that go?
Better then Derek Elias’s skating rink. At least it periodically still runs, as compared to the 6 million dolllar mess at the edge of town. There has to be accountability for this, it’s either this unelected mayor, the last unelected mayor, or the last elected mayor who happens to be now our MLA. Who gets to take the credit?
Or the council three votes that agreed to do it because the last sao told them they could. Doesn’t sound like a good way to run a hamlet.
Go Wayne Go!
As for council, you gotta wonder what those business owners really want. Go Darren, Stephanie, Bessie, Vivienne, Zach, Jessie and William!!!! They have been vocal on social media asking questions which is always goes unanswered.
Remember, some people don’t have social media accounts. Good luck to everyone running
Maybe it’s about time they get one. It’s the 21st century. How can they stay connected with the community and how can the community stay connected with elected officials? Would you post your private cell number for contact?
Which would be/ should be/ one of the election issues, there has not been any sharing of council meeting minutes, or posted information on any forum I could find on anything happening. Even if you want to go to a meeting, that information is not consistently available. An odd way to run a government or a very smart way to benefit from ambivalence.
I believe the current council and Mayor are going to have to take full responsibility for the mess that is the skating rink, that unused red building at the edge of town, filled with illegally sourced material and water.
It has been almost four years since any meaningful minor hockey programs have run, and the old rink that used to hum with life is empty, dirty and neglected. Decisions by the current council to spend millions of dollars were made without quorum, or public awareness and input when they hold secret, unannounced meetings.
Our current MLA does not escape this mess either, nor the gn insistence on putting in non-elected representatives.
Hopefully, candidates can do better, and the current Mayor can answer for these issues.
Agree with hmmm accountability is skirted Democracy is subverted by the unelected mayor and his elected old gaurd gang…need to clean out the autocrates and elect a whole new slate to serve the community in a open and democratic process..the unelected mayor of hooterville should step down ..leaders are not appointed but elected..those hooterville rules must be changed,so things are not forced down the communities throat by power tripper clinging to power on 23 Oct people if cambay should wake up and hopefully how they were treated and a deaf ear turned to frustrate & nit hear thier concerns…SOUND L8KE A BANANA REPUBLIC TO ME