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IQALUIT - Iqaluit resident Beth McKenty is the recipient of a Governor General's Caring Canadian award for her work with youth in Nunavut.

"I haven't expected anything like this to happen because I'm simply doing it in memory of my brother and, increasingly, out of the longing to do something for these really gifted and wonderful children," McKenty said.

Beth McKenty stands with two of the youth who regularly come to her home to paint. From left, Seepoola Innuaraq, 19, Beth McKenty and Ooleepeeka Ipeelie, 19. - photo courtesy of Patricia Parks

McKenty moved to Nunavut in 1999 because she had made a promise to herself that she would work to reduce suicide after her brother took his own life. She had heard about Nunavut's high suicide rate and decided she would pack up and move to the territory.

She lives in Bahai House in Iqaluit and acts as a caretaker there, after joining the Bahai faith following her brother's suicide. It's at this house that McKenty began the Arctic Youth Inititative, a program she began 10 years ago when she invited two little boys in for hot chocolate.

"After they had their hot chocolate I asked if they would like to try painting and I gave them red, yellow and blue acrylic and I told them they could mix any colour that exists, except white, out of that," McKenty said. "They came back later with two friends and gradually this developed into a regular project every Saturday morning with many kids from the neighbourhood and I got very good materials so they could have their own palettes and paper and brushes."

As the years went on, more and more children came and local businesses, organizations and the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY) provided McKenty with the materials she needed to run an art program from her home. She also travelled to communities throughout Nunavut, visiting schools and teaching art to children, though she was quick to point out that she is not an art teacher.

"While I don't consider myself an art teacher, I do find that this experience for children seems to matter," she said.

"I learned through trial and error if you ask the children to be quiet for five or six minutes after they start painting that they produce very different work. Over the years I believe that many other things have happened around that table."

Longtime friend Patricia Parks said although McKenty has lived an interesting life, she's reluctant to talk about her achievements.

"She's a very modest lady and she said she's been a teacher, she taught English as a second language in other countries," Parks said. "Like most modest people, they like to quietly go and do their wonderful things and not say a word about it."

McKenty said she does not know who nominated her for the award.

Isabelle Serrurier, media officer for the Rideau Hall Press Office, said the nomination process is confidential.

"Anybody can nominate someone who they feel is a deserving individual for the Caring Canadian Award, which is known as our volunteer award," Serrurier said.

She also said McKenty will be honoured with a ceremony in the next few months, along with other award winners from across Canada. If the ceremony takes place down south, Serrurier said McKenty's airfare would be paid for.