Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 14/98) - Arctic Co-operatives continues to expand its presence in the North.

The latest move -- opening a new $1.2-million retail building in Igloolik, a Baffin community of about 1,200.

The 595 square metre (6,400 square foot) retail upgrade, will "provide a wider selection of merchandise and much improved storage facilities" to members, Arctic Co-op said.

Igloolik Co-op has about 400 active members.

To mark the occasion, the co-op hosted a grand opening last Thursday.

"This is a red-letter day for the community," Igloolik Co-op manager Isaac Gullage said Thursday.

"There's a lot of emotion, optimism and excitement."

Construction of the new addition began in September.

Two of the Igloolik Co-op's original board members, Pauli Kunnak and Emile Immoriatok, were to be on hand to cut the ribbon.

Kunnak and Immoriatok were among eight people on the Igloolik Co-op's first board about 35 years ago. Others were Pacome Kolaut, Mark Idjangiar, Michel Kopak, Victor Ak-Atair and Father Louis Fournier who currently resides in Repulse Bay.

Kolaut was the Igloolik Co-op's first president. Current Igloolik Co-op president is Maurice Arnatsiaq.

"We've had tremendous growth over the past seven years," Gullage said.

In the last seven years, the success of the Igloolik Co-op has enabled members to finance major improvements to their facilities including a new restaurant and a new hotel with new offices, as well as the new retail building.

In Igloolik, the co-op also runs the local post office and cable television service as well as a gas bar.

Igloolik Co-op earnings have remained in the North, Arctic Co-op said.

The member owners of the Igloolik Co-op have shared in the earnings and received over $1.3 million in patronage dividends.

Also over the past seven years, Igloolik Co-op members have received over $600,000 in cash payments.

And, said Arctic Co-operatives, the Igloolik operation contributes more than financial returns and control at the community level, it means jobs.

The Igloolik Co-op has an annual payroll of over $370,000.

But healthy financial situation was not always the case, said Gullage.

A decade ago, the Igloolik Co-op faced a deficit of about $800,000, he said.

But "a team effort and emphasis on member service" helped turn the co-op around, he said.

Just a few months ago, Arctic Co-op opened a brand-new building in Fort Good Hope. That move introduced retail competition to the Sahtu community.