Trade show gets down to business with awards, conferences

Sometimes, smaller is better.

Organizers hope that’s the case for the Nunavut Trade Show and Conference, the annual four-day event that opened Monday in Iqaluit but with only half the usual number of business presenters.

“I think we’ve got a really good program to take a lot of valuable information away from, and hopefully to start discussions in their own households and their own businesses when they leave here,” said Stephen Sullivan, president of host organization Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The trade show is held to provide businesses a chance to show off their work and for attendees, mostly from business and government, to network.

This year, the entire show is being held inside the Aqsarniit hotel. In previous years, many of the sessions were held at the Arctic Winter Games arena but it’s hosting a hockey event and isn’t available.

This year’s event features about 60 presenters, as well as speeches from people such as Jimmy Akavak, vice-chairperson of Atuqtuarvik Corp., a business development company; and Albert Netser, dean of technology and trades at Nunavut Arctic College, talking about work being done by Arctic Fresh.

Monday was awards night, held in the hotel ballroom.

Carolann Harding, chief executive officer of SmartICE, accepts the non-profit’s award for business of the year during the Nunavut Trade Show and Conference on Monday. (Photo by Daron Letts)

Cindy Twerdin was named businessperson of the year for her achievements with Canadian North airline as its associate vice-president of government and community relations for Nunavut.

Originally from Pangnirtung, Twerdin began her career at First Air in 1997 as a ticket counter agent in Iqaluit.

“Looking ahead, my hope is to see more Inuit in leadership and decision-making roles in business across Nunavut,” Twerdin said in accepting her award. “Our future will be even stronger when Inuit voices continue to shape it.”

The business of the year award went to SmartICE, which stands for Sea-Ice Monitoring And Real Time Information for Coastal Environments.

SmartICE, a non-profit, provides assistance dealing with climate change and was formed from a partnership of community, academic, government and industry groups.

SmartICE chief executive officer Carolann Harding opened her acceptance speech by thanking Canadian North.

“It’s not all about cookies,” she said, referring to the popular in-flight treats the airline offers.

“Our entire team travelled last year over 1.1 million kilometres.”

SmartICE works with 44 communities across northern Canada, mostly in Nunavut. Researchers work with community members to gather sea-ice knowledge and climate change data in real time, Harding said.

SmartICE is among the businesses hosting excursions for delegates at the trade show. Participants will visit with SmartICE researchers and learn about the buoys and qammiks fixed with data-collecting technology.

“We’re looking forward to the next three days of conferencing and networking and getting to know one another,” chamber executive director Tony Rose said Monday.

“Especially those people who are coming to Iqaluit for the first time, we’re really looking forward to giving them an opportunity to see something beyond the conference room.”

Trade show booths open to the delegates on Wednesday and on Thursday, the final day, the booths will be open to the public.