IQALUIT
From tiny Grise Fiord in North Baffin with a population of less than 130 people, to the territory’s capital in Iqaluit with more than 6,000 residents, there are 25 communities with economic development officers spread out over Nunavut’s approximately 1.9 million square kilometres.

Economic development officers such as those under the Nunavut Economic Developers Association offer services to all businesses in Nunavut, whether brick and mortar shops like Iqaluit's Arctic Ventures, pictured here, or self-employed entrepreneurs in remote communities. - NNSL file photo

Some towns and hamlets are near epicentres of mineral development and exploration. Take Baker Lake, where residents and businesses have economic opportunities associated with mineral development. Other hamlets have marginal economic opportunity beyond basic self-sustenance or traditional lifestyle economies.

Each of the economic development officers in these communities are responsible, in part, for connecting residents with economic opportunity and development. They face unusual challenges, including their own isolation.

“Every community in Nunavut, even Iqaluit, is remote by any standard definition,” said Hal Timar, the Nunavut Economic Developers Association’s new executive director. “Regardless of the community, the issues are the same: a relatively small economic base meaning fewer economic opportunities.”

Timar began his position with this association at the start of April, but he is not new to the North. He was previously the executive director of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce for eight years.

His new employer's mandate is to provide support and training for the economic development officers spread across the territory.

“Economic development officers have a challenge,” Timar said. “How do you create economic development in communities that face challenges like a high cost of doing business, the complexity of transportation logistics, and the lack of a skilled workforce?”

“Some things we might take for granted, like access to banking, bookkeeping, or office supplies are often not available locally. For example, if you need a toner cartridge (for a printer) you can’t just go out an buy one.”

Some communities face challenges on the other end of the scale. Timar points to communities like Baker Lake with the nearby Agnico-Eagle Meadowbank mine, or Baffinland’s Mary River project with the six regional communities that stand to benefit from production at the site.

“How do you take advantage of the opportunities for skilled positions,” Timar asked. “How do you deal with the socio-economic impact of having all that extra money in a community, and how do you ensure that benefits are long-lasting?”

While economic development officers aren’t expected to address the full breadth of those questions, they are expected to be the point person for community members looking to take advantage of whatever resources may be available.

“They help local businesses,” Timar said. “There are funding and grants available for business startup, training, and growth that (economic development officers) can help facilitate.”

“Whether you’re thinking of starting a business or are already self-employed, a community’s (economic development officer) can help.”

Timar hasn’t had time yet to completely settle into the position and work out this year’s agenda with the board members, but one of his first plans is to bring forward a “state of the profession” survey.

The survey would create a snapshot of the challenges and opportunities economic development officers see across the territory, as well as capture incongruities between the perception of what they do and what they actually do.

Assuming board approval, the project could be complete within the year.

“There are many stakeholders who will be interested in it,” Timar said. “To support the growth of the profession, we have to understand both where we’re at, and where other people perceive us to be.”