RANKIN INLET/BAKER LAKE - The Kivalliq has to focus more on the economic activities being generated by exploration and mining in Baker Lake, said the owner of Peter's Expediting Ltd.

A worker prepares to pour the first gold bar at the Meadowbank gold mine in Baker Lake this past month. - photo courtesy of Agnico-Eagle

Peter Tapatai was among the numerous business leaders who attended the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce business symposium in Rankin Inlet this past week.

He said it's time for Kivalliq businesses and organizations to put their energy into identifying how people in the region can benefit from the situation in Baker.

"This is new money coming in, not just money from the government," said Tapatai.

"Resource development is taking off in our area, and we need to identify every type of service we can provide and work to ensure we all benefit."

Tapatai said he thoroughly enjoyed the presentations at the symposium because they focused on areas he's familiar with.

He said the Kivalliq needs resource development because there's no economic foundation in Nunavut.

"We're a small number here and we need outside people to do business in our territory.

"Now that it's happening, we have to do everything in our power to take advantage of it while it's here."

Tapatai said people in Baker are kept informed by the mining-and-exploration companies at community-relationship meetings.

He said Baker is fortunate to have a producing mine, and there's always been a good history between the company and the community.

"We hear what's going on in Baker because we've always had a good relationship with Agnico-Eagle, but it was good for that to be shared with the region.

"It's all so real now, after years of almost wondering what they were doing out there.

"You know, $1.5 billion was spent on this mine, and, for the longest period of time, interest in it seemed almost minute.

"After that incredible amount of money being put in, we saw the end result when that first bar was poured."

Tapatai said it's still hard to believe, even though he's watched the process unfold from a tiny exploration camp on the land to a producing gold mine.

He said he can't put into words the excitement felt when the first bar was poured.

"Agnico-Eagle shared the moment with its employees, and that wasn't surprising because this company feels like family now in Baker.

"We had absolutely nothing here, and always had to struggle for a little piece of something for the region.

"Now we have resource development in our back yard and that's extremely important for everyone in the region, not just the people of Baker Lake."