North West Company gives back
Greener Tomorrow program donates $235,531 to communities this year
Karen K. Ho
Northern News Services
Saturday, April 25, 2015
NUNAVUT
This year Northern and NorthMart stores in the territory donated $235,531 to local community programs through the company's Greener Tomorrow initiative.
From left to right, grocery supervisor and senior store employee Paul Kattau, Michael Cohen, Arviat's finance director, John McGuire, Arviat's Northern store manager and Keith Collier, economic development officer for the hamlet, receive the large novelty cheque for the hamlet's Eco-Sports. - photo provided by North West Company
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Launched in 2011, the program actively aims to reduce the use of plastic bags by charging customers 25 cents for each one while providing each household with two reusable bags. Funds from the sale of regular plastic bags are then distributed to local programs chosen by community organizations and leaders.
"In most cases it's the hamlet and in some cases we get direction from store level," Derek Reimer, the North West Company's director of business development, told News/North.
While Reimer acknowledged that store operators benefited from the program through slightly lower operating costs, he stressed the benefits of the program to environmental causes, youth and breakfast programs which were the major priorities for receiving funding.
"There are many spinoff benefits we see from this program," he said. "Many of them don't have access to funding on a sustainable basis."
This year 21 of Nunavut's 27 communities received funds but Reimer said the company is hoping to expand the program even further. "We're grateful to the local leadership that worked on selecting these programs and the recipients that were selected," he said.
As for advice to other companies looking to undertake a similar environmental initiative, Reimer strongly recommended reaching out and informing the community of what is involved and the benefits to participation. "And working with community leaders to ensure the funds are directed in a way that respects their wishes and where they're needed most," he added.
Among some of the major funding recipients were Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School in Baker Lake, which received $16,840 for its high school healthy cooking class; Arviat's Eco-Sports program, which got $20,110; and Iqaluit, which received $58,000 for its Toonik Tyme Festival, the after-school program at Aqsarnitt Linniarvik School, the on the land program at Inuksuk High School, as well as the city's annual spring clean-up and summer student litter team program.
