Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Oct 28/05) - A stalwart of CBC radio programming in the North is moving on.

Elizabeth Kusugak has been with the CBC for more than 21 years in Rankin Inlet.

She has also been the network's area manager in Rankin for more than a decade.

Kusugak says she is ready to step away from the CBC, although there are many aspects of her job she will miss.

She says at the end of the day, her family had to come first.

"I remember once being told that family always has to come ahead of my career because the CBC will still be here after I leave," says Kusugak.

"My family wanted a quieter life in Repulse Bay, so my husband (Cyril) and I decided the time was right to move on."

Kusugak says while there will always be people who simply don't like the media, most people in the North have grown to understand the role it plays in their everyday lives.

She says the media is like a lot of things in life, people don't miss it until it's gone.

"I found that out during the lockout when people really missed our daily broadcasts.

"It's important for the media to tell the stories of the people in our communities in their own language.

"The media is the eyes and ears of the people, and most enjoy what we've been doing here for so long.

"But, there will always be people who think the media is no good and that's that."

Although excited about her move to Repulse Bay this week, Kusugak says she will really miss the people of Rankin Inlet.

She says the CBC and the community have always been good to her and her family.

"There's a tremendous sense of teamwork in Rankin Inlet that I will miss.

"People come together for each other if there's a search and rescue, or if there's a fire at somebody's house, whatever.

"The community comes together to help those in need.

"Rankin has a very strong multi-cultural environment that's very accepting of people."