IQALUIT - As a security guard at the G7 finance ministers' summit, Atchie Kotaigo greeted everyone with a smile, answered questions about Inuit culture and Inuktitut, gave directions or just exchanged pleasantries.

Atchie Kotaigo, a former resident of Kimmirut, worked as a security guard during the G7 finance ministers' summit in Iqaluit Feb. 5 to 6. - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

"It's nice to see all different people because the population is growing more, and more," he said.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty hosted his counterparts from the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Japan in the Nunavut capital Feb. 5 and 6. Many dignitaries were staying at the Frobisher Inn, where the media centre was also located.

As a guard with Twilite Security, it was Kotaigo's job to check the badges of and provide security to the local, national and international journalists, photographers, camera crews and other staff members in the media centre.

"I expect to see different people from all over the world, I'd say," he said as the event kicked off Feb. 5.

And he probably did with the hundreds of foreign media descending on Iqaluit. As to whether he hoped to meet some of the finance ministers, he said: "I'm just here to do my job. If I see them, I will probably likely shake their hands. It would be nice."

Kotaigo said he grew up in Kimmirut but moved to Iqaluit at age 17. He has been a security guard for about 12 years, he added.

"I was walking on the street one day and there was a car pulled over that asked me if I wanted to work. I said 'sure.' So ever since, I've been working on and off for the last 12 years," he said.