Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Oct 05/01) - Each day is different for Diana Tingmiak. That suits her just fine. She's now been tenant relations officer for the Inuvik Housing Authority for 14 years.
 Diana Tingmiak's job with the Inuvik Housing Authority keeps her busy with paperwork and lots of running around. - Malcolm Gorrill/NNSL photo |
"I enjoy my work, and I think it's because I enjoy working with people and there's something new happening all the time," Tingmiak said.
"You go from doing strictly paperwork one day, to running around with your head chopped off the next, where you don't know which end is up, kind of thing," she explained.
"You go through a week where nothing happens and then all of a sudden, in one day everything imaginable can happen."
Tingmiak performs a variety of duties. She explains leases to tenants, moves people in and out of housing, collects rents, does inspections, and conducts counselling.
"Sometimes people are having a hard time managing their money, they get behind in rent or whatever, so we help them try to sort out a small budget."
Tingmiak said she likes seeing the excitement in people's eyes when she shows their new apartment.
"You go through happiness, you go through sadness when you have to go kick people out, you know, there's all kinds of things that happen."
The paperwork can get repetitive, she said, but "you never grow tired of the people."
Before joining the Inuvik Housing Authority, Tingmiak served on its board for 10 years. She also had counselling background from having worked at Delta House for 12 years.
Tingmiak gets along well with others at work.
"We each have an important role here, and we sort of complement each other in our areas of work," she said.
"We have the serious times, we have the fun times," Tingmiak explained. "If I didn't enjoy the people, I wouldn't be working here."
Tingmiak also likes Inuvik.
"I love the people, I love the easy going way of life," she said.
"People up here accept you for who you are, instead of what you have."
