RANKIN INLET
The Youth Centre in Rankin Inlet has a new youth co-ordinator, with two full-time staff and six summer students under her management. Sam Kavik started her new job June 1.

Sam Kavik, the new youth co-ordinator at Rankin Inlet's Youth Centre, celebrates Nunavut Day July 9 with her daughter Shadey, left, and niece Megan McLeod. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo

What brought Kavik to the centre is a story of unexpected tragedy and perseverance. Kavik was in administration, with an accounting background. Her plan was to pursue a career as a chartered general accountant.

But life took a turn.

"A couple of years ago my husband committed suicide and passed away," she says. "I kinda stopped there. A lot of things changed."

Her main reason for taking the job as the youth co-ordinator is that she likes children.

"I wanted to work with kids. I really like grassroots movements. I definitely see the statistics of drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. And I just notice the need in our community for individuals who are willing to put themselves aside and work to a bigger picture. I thought I would enjoy doing something like that."

Kavik can be more present for her eight-year-old daughter, as well, outside an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. office setting.

The move to the centre merges perfectly with her ongoing need to be involved in the community. Her personal life and work are more closely intertwined.

"I'm surprised. I thought I might be going nuts. But it's been fun. I like the different atmosphere. With administration, your work is never done. You never leave work at five and it's done. But working with kids, they reset after a day. They might have problems and whatnot. But the next day is always a new beginning."

Kavik returned to Rankin in 2005, when she was 18. Her five-year foray in the south was just long enough to catch a glimpse of creative ways to engage youth.

"I grew up in Rankin and I moved down south when I was 13. I can understand how people can feel like there's nothing to do. Being down south I had opportunities to experience small festivals, small group things that we don't really have up here."

Kavik hopes to translate some of what she learned as a youth in the south for youth in Rankin.

Meanwhile, in the centre, daily activity tends to be led by the children - 30 children on the day she spoke to Kivalliq News, but 50 are registered. Some are on holidays.

Days are mostly organized around the children's own inclinations.

"We'll have a couple of the workers going to the playground, and kids will sign up to go to the playground. We go to the library. That's a big thing. The kids love going to the library. We take them there almost every day."

Kavik laughs.

"They love it. I was surprised. I was wondering. I didn't go with them the first day. So the second day I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about. And they were sitting down and reading books. I really wasn't sure what to expect and we got there and they grabbed themselves a chair, grabbed themselves a book and they were just sitting there reading."

The children also like playing at the baseball diamond.

Kavik says she tried scheduling the days and activities, but that didn't work out so well.

"Some kids didn't want to go to the playground, or some kids play with different age group. They didn't like being forced. Those days were frustrating. The kids were harder to keep in line. When we give them a choice they are definitely more receptive to the activities because they actually want to be there. They're a lot more calm and helpful."

Different staff members do different activities, and the youth sign up for the activities they want to do.

Kavik says her ultimate goal is to connect youth with each other and with activities they enjoy.

"And make it easier for them to participate, to keep youth engaged."

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