Rankin Inlet booked solid for Kivalliq Trade Show, organizer says

Record number of delegates, sponsors involved in event that runs Sept. 23 to 25

The 15th annual Kivalliq Trade Show is the biggest yet, organizers say, with more than 250 delegates preregistered. The event runs Sept. 23 to 25 in Rankin Inlet. (File photo courtesy of the Kivalliq Trade Show)

By Daron Letts

This week’s 15th annual Kivalliq Trade Show is set to break records.

More than 250 delegates have registered so far for the event, which runs Monday through Wednesday at the Agnico Eagle Arena in Rankin Inlet. More than 60 exhibitors, 45 artists and 30 sponsors are part of the event.

“It’s just been growing over the years,” said Robert Connelly, president of the trade show organizing committee.

With the region’s Meadowbank gold mine slated to close within the next decade and Meliadine mine having about five years of production remaining, the theme of this year’s trade show is “Building a Sustainable Kivalliq.”

“The theme looks at where we are today and where we’re going in the future in terms of emerging opportunities for our economy,” said Connelly.

“We all recognize that we have significant challenges ahead of us in Nunavut and we know that there are more coming.”

Through preparation as well as engagement between the community, governments and businesses, solutions can be found.

The trade show, Connelly said, is “about creating a forum that brings people together for that purpose.”

The Kivalliq Trade Show Society tracks spending in the regional economy as a result of each year’s event. Typically, $750,000 is injected through general labour, accommodations, and services providing interpretation, catering and hospitality.

Hotels and bed-and-breakfasts in the community have been booked solid for months, Connelly said.

“The Kivalliq Trade Show has a large impact on our hotels,” said Lesley Peirson, operations manager with Katimavik Suites and Nanuq Lodge. “The trade show unofficially kicks off our busy season.”

All 51 rooms and the conference room were fully booked nearly a year in advance, she said.

Leading up to the trade show, this past weekend 13 entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs from five of the seven Kivalliq communities started the five-day Kivalliq Entrepreneurship Program. 

The initiative covers subjects like financial literacy, accounting and bookkeeping, understanding a business plan, defining markets and customer base, marketing, and accessing funding programs.

“Participants will then take part in the trade show, attending all the events,” said program co-facilitator Kim Dymond.

“They will get a chance to network and make meetings with possible support partners and get to know more about other partnerships in the region which could be of help to them.”

On Tuesday, the public can attend the exhibitors’ area and the arts market and in the evening enjoy community entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Singiittuq Complex Arena.

 

 

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(4) Comments:

  1. Posted by AEM>The Beatles>Jesus on

    Whose butts are the organizers and attendees going to kiss when AEM is no longer around? It’s actually embarrassing the way the AEM executives are treated like gods in the Kivalliq.

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    • Posted by no11 on

      hey be nice now

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    • Posted by Silas on

      Kivalliq Region is a huge area of land and has plenty of minerals for many more years. You just have to find them.

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  2. Posted by Tooma on

    Many would like to work but seems that only with kids and partners has got all jobs and with housing. Many single individuals living with parents needs employment with high school. Would like to see more single Inuit start working and think of them too

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