Prizes for people's great ideas
Arctic Inspiration trustees seeking nominations for funding
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, July 4, 2016
NUNAVUT
Enterprising Nunavut organizations have new chances to receive Arctic Inspiration Prizes, something groups in this territory have been good at in the past.
Mary Etuangat, left, Sandra Roberts, Ningeola Tiglik and Christy Douwsma hold up their $300,000 Arctic Inspiration Prize cheque. The four are part of a team bringing sound-amplification systems to Nunavut schools. Nominations are now open for the 2016 prize. - photo courtesy of Sandra Roberts |
Since 2012, the Arctic Inspiration Prize has offered financial contributions to organizations that have a great idea about improving the North in one way or another. What began as a pool of $1 million was upped to $1.5 million in 2015.
"The Arctic Inspiration Prize is a financial contribution to projects that take people's great ideas for the North, by the North, of the North," said Patti Balsillie, chair of the Arctic Inspiration Prize board of trustees.
Last year, Better Hearing for Northern Youth received $300,000 for a project to improve hearing in Nunavut schools. That project is just starting to roll out in Qikiqtani region schools this year.
The performing arts project known as Qaggiq received $600,000 last year, as well. It aims to strengthen Arctic culture and improve resiliency, belonging and pride.
Nunavut projects have traditionally fared well in the competition for prize money. In the founding 2012 year, book project Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, the Nunavut Literacy Council and the Arctic Food Network all received hefty sums for their ideas.
The project was started by Arnold Witzig and Sima Sharifi.
"It is a rare and amazing gift of generosity that is designed to be beneficial to Northern Canadians representing the three territories and the northern regions of Quebec and Newfoundland," said Balsillie.
Projects must be nominated by someone not involved and individuals cannot win the award.
"It's not a fund to support individual business innovation," said Balsillie.
That said, the prize puts no limits on an organization that wishes to find further funding and evolves in the years that follow.
"The Arctic Inspiration Prize might have a time limit on it for however long it takes for the project to be implemented, but if the project can resonate with other partners that might be able to do additional funding after the AIP funding runs out, it's possible that the AIP network can net laureates or prize winners continuing funding partners generally in the south or from around the world," said Balsillie, noting the contrast with some rules surrounding government grants.
The prize presents exposure to future funders, she said.
Nominations for a project for the 2016 Arctic Inspiration Prize are now open with a deadline of Sept. 30.
The winners will be announced in December from Winnipeg.
"We really hope to see a strong showing from all the regions of Canada's North," said Balsillie.
See the arcticinspirationprize.ca website for details.
