Planning ahead
Repulse Bay has 20 enrol in small business workshop
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, March 19, 2014
REPULSE BAY
The Hamlet of Repulse Bay sponsored a small business planning workshop in hopes of helping to launch some entrepreneurs in the community this past week.
Stacy Milortok is in the learning zone during a small business planning workshop in Repulse Bay this past week. - photo courtesy of Kowesa Etitiq |
Hamlet SAO Kowesa Etitiq said the weeklong course began on March 11 at the Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) learning centre.
He said the hamlet was pleasantly surprised when about 20 people signed up for the workshop.
"When I proposed this to council and it was agreed to be hosted, I was hoping eight to 10 people would register to have it called a success," said Etitiq.
"We actually had to turn people away because we didn't have the space or computers at the centre.
"We tried to get funding from the Government of Nunavut, but were told we'd have to wait until the new fiscal year.
"I've had so many people come to my office looking for help to get started with their own business that we didn't want to delay it any longer, so the hamlet funded the workshop itself."
Etitiq said he started lobbying for the workshop this past January.
He said with so many people asking him questions on launching a business, he knew a workshop was needed in the community to get them started in the right direction.
"This course was for anyone in the community who wanted to learn what it takes to start a business and the response was overwhelming.
"We saw the interest was there shortly after we put up posters for the workshop."
The course was facilitated by Louis McComber, who has travelled extensively across Nunavut delivering managementstudies courses for NAC, the Municipal Training Organization, Nunavut Department of Finance and Baffin Chamber of Commerce.
A Nunavut resident for 12 years, McComber has conducted numerous small business workshops in Nunavut and currently works as a consultant for Laval University and Universite du Quebec.
Etitiq said McComber has also worked on the Life Stories of Northern Leader Series Peter Ittinuar, Paul Quassa, James Arvaluk, Abe Okpik and John Amagoalik.
He said the hamlet will now look at the results of the workshop and decide where to go from there.
"Obviously, those who took the course are not all at the same level.
"Some just need help developing a business plan to take to Kivalliq Partners or Economic Development for funding.
"You're not going far without a solid business plan, especially if you're trying to access funding from the Kivalliq Partners and Economic Developments of the world.
"They want to see you've done your due diligence and mapped out how you see your business going forward."
Etitiq said he doesn't know of any small business planning workshops held in Repulse in recent memory.
He said it's an untapped area, and one that may provide success stories if wouldbe business owners can get off on the right foot.
"Council saw the need and was proactive in holding this course for the residents of Repulse Bay.
"We'll see how we progress from here."
