Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet ( May 22/00) - Rankin Inlet was the first of three stops for eight business representatives trying to develop new markets.

The eight, seven from Yellowknife and one from Iqaluit, were on a Trade Mission sponsored by the Canadian North Northern Enterprise program.

The program promotes business communication between different communities, and also made stops in Cambridge Bay and Ottawa.

Canadian North's Rankin representative, Randy Miller, said businesses apply to the program, indicating where they'd like to travel to establish new contacts.

After this group's selection, Canadian North supplied the air fare and partnered with the Siniktarvik Hotel in Rankin to host a meet-and-greet reception.

"The reception is a chance for them to look at different opportunities which may exist," says Miller.

"They may already know who does business in a community, and this allows them to meet in person to set up arrangements that work for both sides."

Bernadette Stewart of Braden-Burry Expediting in Yellowknife and Peter's Expediting of Baker Lake, said her goals in Rankin were accomplished.

"I've had interesting meetings with a lot of people in town and gathered a lot of information," said Stewart.

"From our point of view, it's been very successful."

Mel Palmer said Bartle and Gibson of Yellowknife have been doing business in the North for more than 30 years.

He said the company lost some of its contacts in Rankin and other Kivalliq communities after division.

"This trip has re-opened some of the doors of opportunity that had been closed for awhile after division," said Palmer.

Dan Kane is Canadian North's Nunavut sales manager for cargo and corporate accounts. He said the Northern Enterprise program allows businesses to visit a community they otherwise would not be able to for the sole purpose of checking out a new market.

"It's important to encourage both interterritorial trade, and trade between the communities," said Kane.

Others on the mission included Allan Vaughn of the NWT Construction Association, Doug Devlin of Canzeal Enterprises/Fiberglass North, Monica Ell of Iqaluit's Arctic Creations, Mike Wilgosh of Beaver Lumber and Jamie Smyth of the City of Yellowknife.