Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 3, 2007

IQALUIT - A $250,000 donation from an American foundation will benefit local women's homelessness initiatives and the elders' facility.

Council voted Nov. 27 to allocate $25,000 each to the Qimmavik Transition House and Elders' Facility and the Women's Homelessness Initiative, and $175,000 to the city's recreation facility reserve fund.

Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik met with members of the Annenberg Foundation this past summer on a research vessel touring Arctic waters, and discussed some of the challenges Iqaluit faces.

At the end of the trip the foundation agreed to make a major donation to the city, as long as a portion of the funds were directed to the shelter and elders' facility.

Council recognizes Order of Canada recipient

Council recognized retired Anglican minister Michael Gardener with a plaque at Tuesday's meeting. Gardener, who has worked in Nunavut for over 50 years, was appointed to the Order of Canada in October.

Council member Jimmy Kilabuk told the room he could still remember the first time he met Gardener, while the minister was living in Kimmirut in the 1950s.

"He did not even seem like a qallunaat, because he was already speaking in Inukitut then," Kilabuk said with a chuckle.

Gardener suggested the city consider extending an invitation to Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean to come visit, and thanked the council for their work in resolving local issues.

"My prayers are for the future, because we live in a wonderful place. So let's keep it like that," he said.