Nunavut coroners hold annual training in Kivalliq
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Mar 26/01) - Close to 40 Nunavut coroners will be descending upon Rankin Inlet early next month.
The hamlet will be hosting the annual coroner training sessions on April 7-8 at the Siniktarvik hotel boardroom.
Whale Cove resident Elizabeth Copland has been a coroner for the past seven years and Nunavut's chief coroner for the past two.
She said every year coroners from across Nunavut are brought together in one community for a refresher course in the basic work they perform.
"We cover a bit on investigating a death, a bit on an autopsy and search and rescue operations, those types of things," said Copland.
"This year, we're also getting a representative from the Transportation Safety Board to attend our meetings to review and refresh proper procedures when there's a plane crash or a boating accident, for example.
"Basically, the training enhances our ability to perform our job."
Last year's training session was held in Iqaluit and Copland said there has been some changes with personnel since then.
"A few of our coroners decided they needed some time away and took a year off, so we've been recruiting coroners. We're still working at adding more. We don't have as many coroners as we really want right now."
Copland said there will be four new coroners among the group coming to the Rankin training session to learn how to handle their responsibilities.
"The new coroners have all assisted other coroners in the past, so they know what to expect," she said. "The training will help all our coroners in the performance of their various duties, especially with the proper procedures to be followed in different areas such as sudden, unexpected and accidental death."
