Yellowknife (Oct 25/04) - National Co-op Week,Oct. 17-23, brought a realization that Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. and the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op have been instrumental in the development of the North.

Co-ops have acted as career launchers for many people across the North.

Notable Northerners with Co-op backgrounds include Order of Canada recipient and Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. president Bill Lyall:

Louis Tapardjuk, Nunavut minister of Culture Language, Elders and Youth and minister of Human Resources; and Levinia Brown, Nunavut minister of Health and Social Services and minister Responsible for the Status of Women.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. vice-presidents Raymond Ningeocheak and James Eetoolook also have Co-op backgrounds, said Mark Needham, a board member with both Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. (ACL) and Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op.

There are 34 Co-ops in the ACL family. All but one are located in either the NWT or Nunavut.

The one Co-op located south of 60 is the Akochikan Co-op Ltd. located in Pukatawagan, Man.

The first ACL Co-op opened in Kugluktuk in September 1960.

National Co-op Week has been observed through the baking and sharing of cakes, as well as draws for various prizes and food stuffs in Co-ops throughout the North, said Needham.

In Pond Inlet, the RCMP, the hamlet, Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation (BIMC) and Toonoonik Sahoonik Co-operative Limited established a helmet bank.

The idea was generated after many ATV accidents occurred in Nunavut.

Youngsters will be able to get a helmet and when they outgrow them, they can trade them in.

BIMC kicked off the program with a donation of 230 helmets.

Early days

The Co-ops began as a means for providing competitively-based services to communities and are member-owned, he said.

"It started with groceries and has expanded into convenience stores, gas bars, fuel delivery, hotels, cable TV and restaurants, as well as a marketing branch that sells Inuit and Dene arts and crafts."

The Co-op system has become actively involved in the annual resupply of Northern communities.

At the same time, Co-ops across the North continue to expand.

Examples of growth include the expansion of the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op and gas bar and the building of the Kissarvik Co-op in Rankin Inlet, which opened in June of this year.

Other expansion examples include a new hotel being built in Holman and another store being opened in Kugaaruk.