Two previous AGMs had to be cancelled due to blizzard conditions.

The PACL falls under the umbrella of the Canadian Association for Community Living and advocates on behalf of Nunavut's intellectually and physically challenged.

It is the only organization of its kind in Nunavut.

About 80 people turned out for the AGM to voice their concerns and hear the PACL's plans for the coming year.

Executive director Lesia Lucan says the PACL was granted $15,000 in funding from Human Resources and Development Canada (HRDC) for the 2002-03 fiscal year, which ends March 31.

She says community awareness is the focus of the first year in the PACL's three-year plan.

"We'll be producing informative posters and pamphlets and translating them into Inuktitut, those types of projects," says Lucan.

"In 2003-04, we'll receive $35,000 from HRDC and we'll be working on inclusive education.

"We'll also receive $35,000 from HRDC in 2004-05, when we'll put our focus on government policy change and implementation."

Lucan says the PACL wants to meet with government officials to talk more about what can be done for people with disabilities in Nunavut.

"We'd like to raise the issue of disability pensions," she says. "We've had many elders approach us to inquire about that."

Lucan says there are many areas that need to be addressed in Nunavut.

She says the PACL will be hosting another series of public radio shows for residents to call in and voice their needs and concerns.

The group is meeting tonight (Feb. 5) to elect its volunteer executive committee.

"By outlining our three-year plan, that doesn't mean we'll only be working on those specific projects.

"We'll be active on a number of different fronts."

Lucan says the organization would like to hold a regional workshop in the not-too-distant future and invite representatives from each community.

"Once we spread the word on the PACL, hopefully, other communities will become interested and we could help them set up a local association."