IQALUIT
An Iqaluit-based society is banking on a community project to help them stay financially healthy despite a recent loss of funding.

Rhoda Palluq, left, Noah Papatsie and Wendy Ireland, members of the Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasauqtiit Society, pose for a picture in 2012. On April 17, Ireland said a group of volunteers have formed a committee in order to create a cafe that would provide employment to people living with disabilities. - NNSL file photo

Some members of the Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasauqtiit Society, a group that advocates and promotes the rights and interests of Nunavummiut with disabilities, have begun working on the creation of a new cafe in Iqaluit.

Wendy Ireland, the society's executive director, said the project came about after a two-day AGM two years ago when members wanted to find a way to create employment for people with disabilities.

"We're in a transition mode and we're excited about what's coming down the pipeline," Ireland said.

"We're not receiving some of the funding that we've received in the past. There's been a change with (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada) and how they fund some of their stuff, so some of our project funding has definitely gone away. But we have ideas on how to bring the funding back."

The purpose of the cafe - tentatively named the Inclusion Cafe - would be to employ people living with disabilities and also provide Iqalummiut with a hang-out place, killing two birds with one stone.

Ireland said the committee, made up of six to eight dedicated members, is in the process of incorporating the business and trying to find a location for it.

They've been in talks with the Francophone Centre to possibly start selling baked goods from there on Wednesday mornings.

That would prepare them for the eventual opening of a cafe.

Ireland said it's a community-oriented initiative that is completely driven by members, which makes it special.

"We don't know what it's going to look like yet, but we're supporting our group of volunteers that has that vision," she said.

"The idea comes from the south, where people in similar situations (living with disabilities) are running their own coffee shops. Iqaluit sort of needs a little hangout place."

Committee member Carolyn Curtis said it took a while for the project to really get off the ground, but now it's picking up steam.

"This past year, everyone was very keen to get it off the ground," she said.

"We wanted to provide employment for people that was much more interactive with the community and really create an inclusive community here. Another goal of ours is to provide pre-employment training for our participants, to anyone who identifies themselves as having a disability."

Kakivak is helping the volunteers come up with a viable business plan, while the search for an ideal location continues.

Ireland said the idea of working with the Francophone Centre is great because it would give them the opportunity to save big on overhead costs.

"It would help us because we wouldn't have the liability of big rental costs," she said.

"We're really keen to see this project moving. There is a need in our community for folks to have regular access to work because there hasn't been a lot of work around disability in Nunavut."

Anyone who is interested in contributing to the project can contact the Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasauqtiit Society.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.