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Hundreds flock to Inuvik for industry event Town benefits from population surplus
through fundraising efforts and economic spinoffs
Lyndsay Herman
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 17, 2013
INUVIK
The 13th annual Inuvik Petroleum Show did not only benefit industry representatives who converged on the town as Inuvik organizations such as the Great Northern Arts Festival committee and the community food bank raked in donations through fundraisers hosted during the two-day event.
Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger provides an update on the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic project June 12 at the Inuvik Petroleum Show. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo |
Jackie Challis, economic development and tourism manager for the Town of Inuvik, estimated 150 exhibitors at 70 booths were present in the trade show. Additionally, she estimated delegates reached around 450 people.
The two-day event, which ran from June 10 to 12 and was facilitated with the help of more than 75 volunteers. During that time, Inuvik's three hotels, bed and breakfasts, as well as a barge camp contributing an additional 30 rooms, were packed.
However, the economic benefits of the event extend far beyond the service industry and airlines.
"The community spinoff is actually quite significant," said Challis.
"When you start to think
about other groups that benefited, it
actually has quite a large impact. People say, 'Oh, it's just for two days,' but there is quite a stamp
that it leaves on our community."
She said a fundraiser for the Great Northern Arts Festival generated $12,000 and artists partaking in the festival also generated revenue through art sales and displays at the Inuvik Petroleum Show. During public admission to the trade show, donations to the food bank were accepted. Although the total amount of food and funds donated was not available by press deadline, Challis said about four grocery carts were full by the end of the event.
The Inuvik Gold Association ran the petroleum show's cash bar and generated revenue from the profits.
A youth centre event networked 50 to 60 youths with industry professionals during one lunch and the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers were hired to preform during the event.
The community content extended to the centrepieces at each table were made from greenery grown in the town's greenhouse, said Challis.
Challis said the two biggest draws of the event were speeches given by Clarence Louie, chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band in British Columbia, and national media broadcaster Rex Murphy.
"We always have really strong speakers and panellists that come to our event," she said "Chief Clarence Louie was a highlight and packed the room. We had people coming in just to hear him speak. He delivered a very passionate presentation (about) the importance of partnership between aboriginal and non-aboriginal (groups) and moving the aboriginal agenda forward ... The other, who closed the conference, was Rex Murphy ... He delivered the same: a very passionate and inspiring, forthright presentation."
Also generating a lot of buzz this year was Finance Minister Micheal Miltenberger's presentation on the proposed Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic line on which the government recently made concrete commitments. The line will run 1,255 kilometres from Checkpoint Junction outside of Fort Simpson to Inuvik and then on to Tuktoyaktuk. A project description is scheduled to be finalized by the end of this month with an aim to start construction in late 2014.
"Minister Miltenberger was here himself to talk about the progress that is making and the impact that it is going to have on the local economy," she said.
"That impact and also how it relates to the satellite receiving station here is really going to provide a different sort of economy for Inuvik and the entire region and the territory."
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