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NUNAVUT
Now in the second decade since division, amid a booming mineral exploration industry, small businesses in Nunavut are also in turn thriving, trade show participants said.

Jonathan Cruz, owner of Apex-based graphic design company NU School shows off his products at the Nunavut Trade Show and Conference on Wednesday. Cruz was among several small business owners at the show. - Thandie Vela/NNSL photo

More than 20 independent small-business owners from across the communities were among the exhibitors at the Nunavut Trade Show and Conference last week, selling their products, expanding their networks, and garnering corporate clients.

Despite the persistent challenges they face setting up shop in remote communities, with smaller population bases and high business costs, small business owners are taking advantage of the opportunities posed by the territory's rapidly increasing activity in resource development, said Hal Timar, Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director.

"We're not far off from having a hair salon in every community, having a candy story in every community," he said, listing increasing tourism traffic, corporate traffic and employment as boosters for small businesses.

"We're on the cusp of an amazing change coming to the territory. In the next 10 years, Nunavut is going to be just a major explosion of activity."

In addition to Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.'s Meadowbank -- the territory's first open-pit gold mine now in production, there are at least 10 potential mines developing in Nunavut, including Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.'s $6-billion Mary River project.

"At any one time during construction, there will be 6,000 people -- almost the size of Iqaluit -- working in Baffinland," Timar said. "Just think about how much toilet paper they're going through, how many bananas they're going to eat. So all this is Nunavut's opportunity to get a share of that business, get a share of that development."

Jonathan Cruz, owner of Apex-based graphic design company NU School, had his booth at the trade show funded through the chamber's small business program, and has gotten support through government contracts to keep his two-year-old small business successful in the territory.

"There's so many different opportunities," Cruz said. "There is enough business for everyone in terms of the market. You just have to believe in your product."

Programs to help businesses take advantage of developments in the territory include start-up and marketing funding from organizations like Nunavut Economic Developers Association, the Kakivak Association, as well as workshops for entrepreneurs being offered across the communities by the Baffin chamber.

Gjoa Haven economic development officer Ed Stewart said the quality of artwork being produced in his community has been getting stronger with hamlet support.

"We are seeing more work and better quality work produced in the community," Stewart said.

The hamlet had a booth with knitted hats, seal skin mittens, sculptures, caribou antler snow goggles and other arts and crafts purchased from about 50 local artisans on display at the show. The exhibit included sculptures by carver Wayne Puqiqnak, who picked up black serpentine stone and caribou antler carving from his father, Uriash.

There are about 3,000 artisans across the territory, he estimated, generating income of about $30 million per year.

"There is a huge underground economy in the arts," Timar said, noting there can always be more investment in the private sector and particularly small businesses for the strengthening of the territory's economy.

"When they can grow their businesses, they hire more people, and because they're in Nunavut, they spend money in Nunavut and support other businesses. So it's a really nice circle."

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