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Feds put $200,000 towards Nunavut tourism sector Thandiwe Vela Northern News Services Published Monday, June 27, 2011
The proposed centre was among five tourism-related projects supported by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency's (CanNor) investment of more than $200,000 to strengthen the tourism sector in Nunavut, announced June 13. "The Government of Canada is proud to support the tourism industry, because it makes an important contribution to the Nunavut economy," CanNor Minister Leona Aglukkaq said in a written statement. "These projects increase opportunities for Nunavummiut, ensuring they can continue to build a vibrant and diversified tourism sector and ultimately help create jobs and new business opportunities in the North." Kugluktuk has been considering building a visitor and culture centre for about a year according to Don LeBlanc, senior administration officer for the hamlet. "We want to develop tourism, and to develop tourism you need to have something that's going to welcome people," LeBlanc said, adding a committee has been formed to help move the project along. The hamlet is receiving $44,640 from CanNor to determine the feasibility of the centre. Consultant Kim Staples of KSL Consulting has been hired to prepare a report that is expected to be presented to the community and council by August. "There is still a lot to con sider," LeBlanc said, adding they are still in the preliminary planning stages but the report will give them a better idea of the cost of the project. "The committee is working closely with Kim Staples and we are very enthusiastic and encouraged," LeBlanc said. The Hamlet of Chesterfield received $14,574 in funding from CanNor to update their tourism marketing material, including brochures, tour guides, CDs and maps. "Our focus was on preserving the historical background of our community," said David Kattegatsiak, Chesterfield Inlet economic development officer. Visitors are encouraged to see the hamlet's archaeological and historical sites such as the Hudson's Bay Company complex, which is about 100 years old, Kattegatsiak said. Among the other recipients of the Nunavut tourism funding are: Nunavut Arctic College, which is developing a tourism hospitality program; the Inuit Heritage Trust, which received $50,000 for a training program on local culture, heritage and attractions; and Nunavut Tourism, which received $39,000 to train a dozen of its members on topics including social media and how to market their business. The tourism investments were made through CanNor's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development program and the Community Economic Opportunities program. CanNor is also funding tourism expansion in the NWT, where an investment of $900,000 was recently announced for expanding the tourism sector in the territory.
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