Businesses make connections at show
Kivalliq Trade Show prime tool for growing Kivalliq economy
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
RANKIN INLET/KIVALLIQ
Representatives from businesses, organizations and government agencies stretching from Nunavik to Manitoba descended upon Rankin Inlet for the seventh annual Kivalliq Trade Show this past week.
Ken Dufault of Medigas Manitoba Ltd. chats with RCMP Const. Bryan Bowskill and Clifford Caners of the Arctic Buying Co., from left, at the Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
The show ran from Sept. 26 to 28, and featured the most delegates and presenters to date in its seven-year run.
In addition to the trade show floor, the three-day event featured a Youth Entrepreneur Program, art market, entertainment evening, fashion show, numerous presenters, including keynote speaker Rob Campbell (director of National Aboriginal Services), and a gala banquet and auction evening.
Derek Earl of the World Trade Centre Winnipeg - an independent not-for-profit organization that helps companies trade, export and conduct business internationally - said the centre's main mandate is to help Manitoba companies find new opportunities within Canada and on the international stage.
Earl travelled to Rankin with 22 representatives from different companies, including Low Environmental Impact Technologies, which hopes one of its innovations, an after-market product for home washing machines to allow washing clothes in cold water with virtually no detergent, generates strong interest in the Kivalliq.
He said it was the first time at the Kivalliq Trade Show for his organization and about half the representatives he travelled with.
"There are a number of Winnipeg-based companies, such as Arctic Co-operatives and Calm Air, that play a big role up here," said Earl.
"But we reach out to other Manitoba companies to become involved, make contacts, and possibly develop business opportunities in this region as well.
"We had targeted objectives in terms of contacts we hoped to make here and, from my perspective, I was able to meet or connect with most of the people I had hoped to through the trade show.
"The feedback I received from the companies in our group indicated they were also able to make the key contacts they were hoping for."
Earl said his group was delighted with the connections they made, was impressed with the overall organization of the trade show, and found Rankin Inlet to be very welcoming
and friendly.
He said, overall, the Kivalliq Trade Show was a very positive experience.
"Show organizers were extremely helpful on the logistics side, in helping each of us connect with the companies we were looking for, and in continuing after the fact by connecting us to others once we understood the projects they're working on.
"The number-one benefit of a trade show in our case, is that it brings everyone together in the community for a couple of days.
"That's where the top value was because, if you were looking to connect with companies, organizations and decision makers, it was a good time to be in Rankin Inlet.
"There were some very good presentations on doing business in the Kivalliq, and updating the major mine projects with Agnico Eagle, so, overall, it was a very beneficial and rewarding few days here."
Peter Tapatai of Peter's Expediting in Baker Lake has attended six Kivalliq Trade Shows, and said he's very impressed with how much the show has grown.
He said it's important to showcase different opportunities that exist in the region, and the trade show does an excellent job.
"The key to any success is good marketing because you have to go to the clients, they're not going to come to you," stressed Tapatai.
"People want to do business, but you have to show it's in their best interest to conduct that business with you.
"You have to get out and promote your business effectively because, in my opinion, effective marketing is the most important aspect to any business."
Peter's Expediting has provided logistical support to Kivalliq industry since 1998.
Tapatai was the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce's Businessman of the Year in 2013, and he was awarded the Mike Hyne Individual Award at the 2014 Nunavut Mining Symposium for his significant contributions to Nunavut's mining industry.
Tapatai said it's still important to get the message out that the Kivalliq is open for business, and its businesses want to be at the front of growing the region's economy.
He said resource development is new money that will spur big economic growth for the Kivalliq.
"It's not government money just being recycled around; it's new money that can benefit our region in so many ways.
"Doing the Kivalliq Trade Show to showcase the opportunities in our region and the businesses that exist here is a lot of work, and the organizers have done an excellent job over the years.
"If you want to be part of our region's growing economy, you have to be ready when opportunity presents itself.
"The Kivalliq Trade Show is a great way to promote your business, learn of projects and opportunities, make good contacts, and showcase our arts and crafts."
Tapatai said another key element of the trade show is promoting and supporting the next generation of Kivalliq entrepreneurs.
He said going forward, Inuit have to learn to trust in the designated Inuit organizations put in place to make sure the water, wildlife and land are all protected.
"The level of comfort I have in our Land Claims Agreement, and knowing these organizations are doing their jobs, allows me to move forward as a businessman, confident these things are being looked after.
"We have to continue these trade shows because we have young entrepreneurs who are our region's future.
"We have to support our young entrepreneurs, and help them navigate some of the areas we may have had trouble with during our journey.
"Our youth are the next wave of Inuit who are going to accomplish big things in our region, and it is so very important for our current business community to support them."
