SANIKILUAQ - Lucy Ann Appaqaq has just started her own business in Sanikiluaq, and she said having an accounting course available in her home community is a definite asset.

This fall the Hamlet of Sanikiluaq held an accounting workshop for interested participants. Six people completed the course. From left are participant Lucy Ann Appaqaq and presenting their certificates are councillors Mina Inuktaluk and Jacob Uppik. - photo courtesy of Muhamud Hassan

"Every working day I will be using these skills," she said.

Appaqaq was one of eight people in the community who took an accounting course offered by the hamlet earlier this fall.

At her home-based business called Bake Shop, she takes orders and makes breads, muffins, cookies, cakes and pies and then delivers them.

During the course, she said participants learned simple bookkeeping, how to balance accounts, debits and credits.

This course, called accounting cycle two and business plans, was offered in English and it followed up on the material from an accounting cycle one course offered last year which had 12 participants. The second course was given by trainer Ruby Watson from Nova Scotia.

"It's extremely beneficial when we are dealing with issues creating some sort of empowerment in our community to try and build up our capacity," said Muhamud Hassan, senior administrative officer at the hamlet.

Also in the course were hamlet employees Caroline Mickiyuk and Nellie Pearce.

Mickiyuk, who works as the municipal liasion officer and the assistant receptionist at the hamlet, said the course has helped her better manage the books for the various departments.

"I'm better at my math now but sometimes I still need to use a calculator," she said.

Pearce, the hamlet receptionist, said the course was challenging as she had not taken accounting in high school.

"The hardest is putting the figures in the right place like classifying revenue and expenses," she said.

She added she feels more confident after having taken the course.

As far as Hassan is concerned, courses like this are a "tangible asset."

"The territory lacks financial people in government, by building up this capacity, we create value for the citizens of Sanikiluaq and also for the territory's benefit," he said.

Appaqaq said having the course offered in her community was convenient and she hopes other courses are offered in the future.

Hassan said what Appaqaq is doing with her business is an example of how courses like this are helping residents.

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