Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 29, 2008

NUNAVUT - The president and Chief Executive Officer of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM) resigned within days of each other this month.

According to a statement released Wednesday, former CEO Lynda Gunn stepped down to pursue personal interests and to allow "for new leadership of the organization."

Earlier that day, she said she could not comment further, citing a legal agreement.

Gunn, who was hired as NAM CEO in October 2003, was also a member of the steering committee of the Qanuippitali? Inuit Health Survey project.

She served on the founding board of the Arctic Health Research Network and negotiated for the introduction of the Gas Tax funded Infrastructure Research Manager position at NAM.

The former CEO made waves last spring when she filed a lawsuit against Premier Paul Okalik, alleging defamation of character over comments he made in June 2007 at a dinner in Goose Bay.

The lawsuit has not yet been heard in court.

Gunn's resignation came days after that of Elisapee Sheutiapik, who announced she was resigning as NAM president in order to pursue a candidacy in the territorial election.

Sheutiapik is running in Iqaluit West.

Iglulik mayor Paul Quassa replaced her with NAM.

"I think we made a great team," Sheutiapik said of Gunn. "But I try to think positively, it's an organization that's forever changing, and I am looking forward to seeing her contributions somewhere else."

Sheutiapik, who is also taking a leave of absence from her position as mayor of Iqaluit, has lobbied hard for NAM's inclusion in devolution and mineral development talks during her two and a half years at the helm.

She has also served as board member on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Sheutiapik said she will miss the opportunities she had to network and learn from other mayors around the territory and the country.

NAM senior manager Lewis Gidzinski will be acting CEO until the position is filled.