IQALUIT - The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency announced last week its headquarters and regional offices will be located in the fourth phase of Inuksugait Plaza in Iqaluit.

Inuksugait Plaza Phase 4, currently under construction, is the future location of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency headquarters in Iqaluit. - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq said 55 people will move into two floors of the four-storey office building once construction is completed in late 2011. The ground floor will be for regional staff while the second floor will house headquarters personnel.

The federal agency will enter into a 10-year lease with Qikiqtaaluk Properties Inc., said Aglukkaq.

CanNor also announced last week it would invest $88,648 in the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce to help it create a trade show preparation workshop and guide.

The idea for the project came after the chamber noticed an exhibitor had sold everything it had brought part way through the second day of a trade show down south, said Hal Timar, executive director of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce. He added this left the exhibitor sitting at an empty table for the rest of the event.

Timar said this happens in all trade shows.

"In that particular one, I guess they didn't realize how much traffic there would be there and how much they could potential sell," he said. "And if they sold it out, have a backup plan – take orders and things like that – and still have enough marketing material. People could see they were still selling something even though the physical product wasn't there."

People, especially in the North, invest a lot of money to travel to trade shows so when they get there, it's important they maximize their participation, including having a clear understanding of what they want to accomplish there, said Timar.

To ensure Northern communities and businesses know how to get what they want out of these events, the chamber will first train economic development officers during the Nunavut Economic Developers Association's annual professional development conference in Baker Lake, starting today (Nov. 15).

Topics covered include developing marketing material, such as making business cards, fliers and displays, and identifying which trade show to attend, he added.

The EDOs will in turn bring that knowledge to the communities and local businesses, said Timar.

He added the second phase will be to run the workshop in one of the communities.

"Many people from the Baffin will benefit from that," said Aglukkaq. "Any project of this nature helps and it's a worthy project. It will go a long way."

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