Kiv member at helm
Arviat's Kono Tattuinee was elected new president of the board of directors for Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2014
ARVIAT
Kono Tattuinee of Arviat is the new president of the Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.'s (ACL) board of directors.
Peter Shamee, left, Jason Irksuk and Brian Gibbons congratulate Kono Tattuinee on becoming the new president of the Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.'s board of directors this past week in Arviat. - photo courtesy of Gord Billard |
Tattuinee was elected to the position earlier this month.
He replaces William (Bill) Lyall of Cambridge Bay, who was the founding president of ACL.
Lyall received a Canadian Co-operative Achievement Award in 2011, and was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada in 2003.
Tattuinee, 51, is a longtime Co-op member.
He was recently a board member with the Kissarvik Co-op in Rankin Inlet and is nearing his third year as one of ACL's seven board directors.
He has also represented Arviat's Padlei Co-op in the past.
Tattuinee said ACL's board restructures its executive during its annual general meeting in Winnipeg.
He said he was nominated to run for president in the restructuring this year, and was fortunate enough to be elected.
"The Co-op is the only business that really gives back to the people, and that's always been a big draw for me," said Tattuinee.
"The other stores in our region never give anything in return. Unless you're talking about something on sale.
"Keeping the money in the community, and not seeing it go elsewhere, is a big benefit to the people.
"That's always given me the drive to keep going forward and being there for the people."
Tattuinee said he'd like to see every Co-op across Nunavut and the NWT thrive in his new role as president.
He said trying to work against the competition is always a challenge and he knows following Lyall means he has big shoes to fill
"With a lot of good public relations, and a lot of encouragement from myself and the local board in every one of the Co-op's 31 stores in the North, we can all succeed.
"Most of the Co-ops are doing well, but there are a few in need of special attention and more support from their community.
"There's always hope for any Co-op to get on its feet and start running on its own, and Kissarvik Co-op in Rankin Inlet is a good example of that.
"It's, basically, come from being almost bankrupt to paying out patronage dividends for the past four years, which is a prime example of what the Co-op can do for a community and its people."
