KINNGAIT/CAPE DORSET - In light of a shootout, a standoff and two homicide investigations in the span of a little more than three weeks in Cape Dorset, about 100 people attended an inter-agency meeting on Oct. 14 to express their concerns about the recent incidents and discuss possible solutions.

Many good ideas and concerns were expressed during the meeting, said Mayor Cary Merritt.

"We're still trying to get on with our daily lives but you know, there is some mixed feelings in the community about safety still at this time. We did have a very positive meeting last night," he said.

Merritt said he will review the minutes from the meeting and come up with short and medium-term solutions to address the community's problems.

"What we can address immediately was gun safety through trying to get some immediate gun safety courses in the community as well as the hardware for gun lock ups or gun cabinets so they can be secured and locked away properly," he said. "The other fairly immediate concern was some family counselling and youth counselling. Tied into that is more parental responsibility."

Merritt added the community has received support from communities across Nunavut and the territorial premier.

"There was a genuine sense of concern from those who attended but there was also a sense that the community must come together and address this problem," said Sam Pudlat School principal David Webber, who attended the meeting. "There is certainly a willingness among those 100 people who attended the meeting to do that. I came away feeling optimistic and positive about that."

He added the most positive point is that the community will try addressing the problem "head-on."

Webber said he hasn't heard an explanation for the recent outbreak of violence but added different people have different theories.

"As tragic as these events have been, it doesn't appear to (have) a real connection or a cause. There is certainly a connection with the firearms. There has to be greater safety exercised by the community," he said. "Some people speculate that drugs and alcohol could have been a factor in this and I am sure that will come under the microscope as well. But those are just sort of people thinking out loud as opposed to a community consensus on this."

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