Apex (Apr 18/05) - Ann Hanson knew something was up when the premier arrived carrying a big bouquet of flowers for her.

At that moment, Paul Okalik told her she had been appointed the new commissioner of Nunavut by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

"I felt elated and grateful. That's the only two things I can remember," she said. At the time she was working at Inuit Communications Systems, doing narration for a new elders series.

Hanson was born May 22, 1946, on the island of Qakutut, outside Kimmirut. She spent her first 11 years there, speaking nothing but Inuktitut, before moving to attend schools in Iqaluit, Baker Lake and Toronto. She later graduated from St. Xavier University, University of Windsor and Nunavut Arctic College. Her skills as a translator led to many jobs in government and journalism.

She rose through the ranks of the CBC, first as a receptionist and then as an announcer and broadcaster in both Inuktitut and English. Hanson was also the first editor of the Inukshuk newspaper, a precursor to Nunatsiaq News.

Hanson also spent much of her time volunteering for organizations in Iqaluit like the Juvenile Court Committee, the Elders Group and the Quinuajuaq Society.

She lives in Apex with her husband Robert Hanson.