KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
Delphine Shouldice didn't always dream of becoming a hairdresser. When her cousin told her she was going to Iqaluit to study it at school she figured she's apply for the heck of it. After she wad accepted she decided that it couldn't hurt to try. Ten years on Shouldice runs the only hair salon in Rankin Inlet, something which she owes to her teachers at Arctic College.

Delphine Shouldice runs the only salon in Rankin Inlet. She has been working as a hair dresser since studying it in Iqaluit nearly 10 years ago. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo

"If they hadn't been there for me I wouldn't be the hairdresser I am today," she said. "I am so blessed to have them help me."

As blessed as she's been it's taken a while for her to finally get her own business. When she first move back home after studying and working in Iqaluit for six years she was unable to find somewhere to rent out for her salon. As a result she ended up having to cut people's hair in her garage or in people's living rooms.

"It's so hard to find any place to rent in Rankin," she said. "I used to have to warm people up with the blow drier because it was so cold. They didn't mind though because they wanted a haircut."

After several years of searching Shouldice finally saw an opportunity arise when the Wild Wolf Hotel and restaurant was being built. She approached the owner and asked if she could rent out a space in the new building. She has been there ever since it opened two years ago.

"I'm just happy to have a salon," she said, while dying Denise Graham's hair.

Shouldice said being able to have a place of her has made a huge difference. She has more space and it's heated in the winter. Having a proper sink to rinse hair also helps a lot.

"People would have to bend over backward just to get into the sink at my home," she said.

Graham has been going to get her hair done by Shouldice for the past six years and usually goes about four times a year. Although the salon is definitely more comfortable than the garage, Graham said it is Shouldice's skills and attention to detail that keeps her coming back.

"I trust her with my hair. She never does anything I don't like," she said.

Shouldice offers a range of services from children's hair cuts, colouring, washing and styling. She also does hair for weddings, grad and other special occasions.

In order to help support her business Shouldice also works as a dental assistant at one of the schools in town. When asked which job she preferred she said liked them both equally.

"I enjoy being around kids but I also enjoy cutting hair," she said.

While she is the only one with a salon, Shouldice said there were other good hairdressers in town who work from home. Shouldice said she didn't mind the competition. She is just happy to be able to be living in Rankin again.

"This is my home and I wanted to be able to show people we can follow all our dreams."

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