Udlu Hanson earns national award for volunteer efforts

Since her teenage days spent assisting nurses at the hospital in Iqaluit, Udloriak (Udlu) Hanson has embraced volunteerism.

For her dedication, she was recognized Thursday with the 2024 national Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award, announced by Jenna Sudds, then the federal minister of families, children and social development.

“It’s a complete honour that I’ve been awarded this recognition,” said Hanson, who is the vice-president of community and strategic development with Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.

The award is named for Thérèse Casgrain, a leader in the fight for women’s right to vote and the first female leader of a Canadian political party during the 1950s, the Quebec wing of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, now known as the New Democratic Party.

Hanson’s selection recognizes her work with the Annauma Community Foundation, which she cofounded, among many other charitable initiatives over the years.

Annauma is short for the Inuktitut word Annaumakkaijiit, which means “helping people to stay ahead.”

It is the first community foundation in Nunavut and is launching its inaugural $10-million Caring North campaign to support community-led initiatives that directly impact and improve the lives of Inuit in Nunavut.

Hanson also led development of the Qaujisaqtiit Society, Nunavut’s first charitable consortium of Inuit non-profit organizations, and currently serves as director emeritus for the Rideau Hall Foundation after serving six years as a director.

Hanson credits her parents, Ann Hanson and the late Robert Hanson, with showing her the pleasure and importance of giving back to her community.

“My parents have always been amazing examples of community-minded individuals,” Hanson said. “Mom was always creating boards and organizations and trying to create social impact in a positive way, and Dad was always flying off to different communities to do the same.”

Earning this national award allows her to highlight the importance of volunteerism and mutual care and aid she said is a part of what it means to be Nunavummiut.

“This award coming to the North is a clear demonstration that there are a lot of people in the North who contribute in such a meaningful way,” she said.

“And I’m grateful that we’re able to highlight them as well, and to demonstrate to the rest of Canada how we are still so community-oriented and likeminded that way.”