Kivalliq News - Dec. 21, 2022

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AROUND Kivalliq

Health centre to close Chesterfield Inlet

The Government of Nunavut is forecasting the Chesterfield Inlet health centre will close from Jan. 9, 2023 to Feb. 3, 2023.

The government blames the closure on continued difficulties to secure relief staff. Closures are also forecast for other communities outside the Kivalliq.

The government claims to be “aggressively” pursuing recruitment efforts.

“In communities where routine health centre services will be unavailable or limited, the Department of Health will use a combination of virtual health, fly-in clinics and paramedic services to support clients,” stated the government in a news release issued Dec. 15.

“Calls will continue to go to the health centres and be directed to virtual support services. Calls may be automatically forwarded to other communities, and callers are asked not to hang up if there are delays while the call is connecting.

“During temporary closures, paramedics are on site to provide emergency, or life-threatening care. Support staff will be available by phone to assist with services such as filling prescriptions and medical travel. If you need a prescription filled, you are advised to get them before the scheduled closure to avoid delays in receiving your medication.

“Closures are subject to change based on staff availability. Updates on closure status will be provided as they become available.”

Department of Health confirms two medevac planes on site

Rankin Inlet

Following questions about the status of medevac services in Rankin Inlet, Chris Puglia, manager of communications with the Department of Health, told Kivalliq News in an email that the medevac contract is with Keewatin Air/Sakku Investments and there are two King Air planes stationed in the community.

Puglia was responding to questions following comments Darren Flynn, the hamlet’s senior administrative officer, made during a November council meeting.

Flynn had mentioned experiencing “three weeks of hell” with a health emergency involving his spouse, who required a medevac.

Flynn had said that his spouse had to wait five days for a medevac, which resulted in further complications.

“We’re seeing it right now with how PPD (Petroleum Products Division) is out here with late deliveries. I’ve also saw it with the medevac side of things,” said Flynn at the time. “The medevac contract says there’s supposed to be two aircraft here. Well, there aren’t.”

He suggested it needs to be brought to the Department of Health to ensure the standards are met for medevac services.

“It’s nice to say you’ve got a contract, but are you actually managing it?” he asked.

Kivalliq News asked Puglia again if the department believes Flynn was incorrect in his assumption about how many medevac planes are stationed in Rankin Inlet.

“Yes,” responded Puglia through email. “There are two aircraft stationed in Rankin.”

Participants from several communities repair locals’ cars and machines

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

Gjoa Haven’s Dylan Aquptanguaq spent a long time in planes to get to Rankin Inlet, but he wasn’t disappointed after taking part in Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.’s small engine repair training course.

“It’s going pretty good,” said Aquptanguaq while showing off two snow machines the group of five participants, plus instructors, had repaired.

“Pretty awesome to do a course like this. My first time. I learned a lot,” he added.

Travel challenges created complications for organizers at the start of the program, which brings Arctic Co-op employees together from around Nunavut to bolster their skills in car and small engine repair.

The two-part course started with vehicle work and finished with small engines, such as snow machines.

It was the first time Aquptanguaq had worked on trucks.

“I’m more interested in snowmobiles than truck, but if I can work on some trucks like changing the oil, do some minor repairs, I can do that (now),” he said.

Sherry Smadella, the training coordinator with Arctic Co-operatives, has been running the small engine repair training program in the North for almost two decades.

Although the Co-ops don’t service light vehicles like trucks, all of them have a company car that could use maintenance from time to time, she said.

For snowmobiles, the Co-ops are authorized dealers for Yamaha and Polaris, so it’s essential that staff are able to service the machines.

Smadella said it’s important for the Co-op to ensure new and long-time technicians upgrade their skills under qualified instructors. She was thankful for Jackson Lindell offering his garage and instruction.

During the course, members of the community were able to get free repairs on their vehicles, provided they supplied the necessary parts.

Over the nine-day course, extended due to travel delays, the group serviced about 15 or 16 vehicles, she said. Four finished the light vehicle training and five completed small engine repair.

“I think it’s important that the Co-op employees, my audience, is always highlighted for their skill development,” said Smadella about her pride in the workers.

For Aquptanguaq, the trip was full of learning and new experiences. Asked if he wanted to say anything else, he said, “It’s my first time being on a photo shoot. I’m looking forward to that.”

with Stewart Burnett

Participants use Jackson Lindell’s garage to work on two snow machines. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Jackson Lindell steps in to help instruct the participants, as weather delays held up some plans for Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.’s small engine repair class, which turned out to be a success regardless. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

The training program allows Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. to broaden the skills of their staff while helping out the community with some free repairs. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Editor:

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Arctic Connection opens in Rankin Inlet

Surge so large, staff had to briefly close the kitchen

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local

Word didn’t take long to spread that Arctic Connection’s new store – or rather, two stores – were opening in Rankin Inlet Friday, Dec. 16.

From 8 a.m. on, the stores by the four-way stop downtown were packed with folks checking out the new retail outlet, and the parking lot was almost as busy as the arena on a hockey night.

The sales and excitement can do the talking, whereas the Ramsay family who run it prefer to stay humble.

“We don’t like to talk about ourselves,” said Jim Ramsay, owner.

Living in Rankin Inlet in the ‘90s, Ramsay started Arctic Connection in Winnipeg in 2002, then moved to Arviat and opened a retail outlet there a decade ago. The successful businessman, whose family all play prominent roles in the operation, decided Rankin Inlet would be his home for the long-term.

“We left here 21 years ago,” said Ramsay. “My wife and I decided this is where we want to retire. Won’t have any rest to retire, but this is our last stop. This is where we want to be.”

The new Rankin Inlet store offers late hours – with takeout services extending to midnight throughout the week – and both a hard goods store and restaurant side. Some of the low prices were already delighting customers on opening day.

“We’re all about sharing and trying to keep the prices down,” said Ramsey, who’s also trying to provide services currently unavailable in town.

The takeout restaurant side of the operation is inspired partially by his time flying from Arviat through Rankin Inlet, where after 6 p.m., there’s hardly anywhere to find hot food in the Kivalliq capital.

It’s also inspired by the old Kativik store in Rankin Inlet. The store is still in operation by the Northwest Company, but it was previously a family business that offered late hours for a wide variety of goods.

Lots of people work on snow machines or the like late into the night, said Ramsay, and he wants to provide an option for them to pick up the tools they need and a pizza at the same

time, even if it’s 11 p.m. on a Tuesday.

In fact, Ramsay used to supply Kativik before the store changed ownership.

“That was a big factor for us deciding” to open the Arctic Connection store, said Ramsey.

Once Kativik became a Northern entity, Ramsay made up his mind that it was time for more options in town.

His daughter, Ashleigh Still, also part of the business, echoed that sentiment.

“We’re not here to compete directly with somebody,” she said, recognizing that every store in town offers different varieties of goods. “We’re here to provide a different option and do what we do best, and that’s it.”

Still said the family was scared to look at the total cost of opening the store, which was delayed a month and a half due to supply chain issues. But the Ramsay’s know-how and connections with shipping means the store can offer impressively low prices on commodities, and

they’re not in it to lose money.

“We’re volume driven, and we take advantage of sealift,” said Ramsay. “We find any space we can to bring in sealift to keep prices down. That’s the bottom line.”

That includes making special orders when customers request it.

“Our customers are our family,” said Still.

By the time of the interview with Kivalliq News the afternoon of opening Dec. 16, the store had already sold more than 500 breakfast sandwiches, forcing it to close the kitchen for a period so staff and the machines could catch up.

But Ramsay isn’t done here. Early in the new year, he plans to launch delivery services, and then eventually eyeing a shuttle service between the new store and the airport for people on layovers to be able to shop and get something to eat.

“We’re just happy to be back,” he said with a smile.

Journalism Initiative

Amber Ramsay chats with customers on the opening day of Arctic Connection in Rankin Inlet Friday, Dec. 16. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Tiana Manernaluk loads a bag of groceries on opening day in the hard goods side of the new Arctic Connection store. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Instructor Jackie Nowdlak leads students while working on snow machine. Stewart Burnett/ NNSL photo

Burnett/NNSL photo

Larry Tangorak, from Naujaat, works on one of the machines. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Kayla Issaluk, from Chesterfield Inlet, works on one of the machines. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

full house takes in the 2022 fishing derby this past spring at the rec hall. Backpacks are no longer permitted without being inspected at the community hall in Rankin Inlet due to people bringing in alcohol.

By Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Rankin Inlet Local Journalism Initiative

You’ll have to be prepared for a search of your items if you want to bring a backpack into Rankin Inlet’s community hall for a public event.

That’s according to a new set of rules drawn up by the hamlet’s recreation committee, as directed by council.

“People were leaving empty beer cans and stuff after events at the hall,” said Martha Hickes, deputy mayor, about the motivation for the decision.

The full rules state that “no person shall be permitted to bring backpacks, bags or totes into the community hall. Purses or diaper bags will be permitted in the community hall upon completion of a physical search inspection by security personnel prior to being granted access to the hall.”

Anyone who refuses inspection will be denied entry, along

with anyone displaying evidence of intoxication.

Verbatim, the rules state that backpacks are banned, period, and only purses or diaper bags would be allowed. But Hickes said that is not quite the case and that any backpacks will be allowed so long as they are searched.

“It’ll be searched, and if you have nothing, they’ll let you in,” she said.

Hickes added that this will be enforced only for special events, like community feasts, square dances, talent shows, Christmas games and the like, though there is no clarification of that in the public notice.

“They’re going to put a big poster up at the rec hall to make sure people follow the rules and regulations,” she said.

The move appears to be further fallout from the opening of the beer and wine store in town.

“It wasn’t so bad before the beer and wine store opened,” Hickes said on the subject of intoxication at community events. “We would see a couple intoxicated people but they wouldn’t bring any alcohol into the rec hall.”

Anyone denied entry to an event for having alcohol, refusing a search or displaying intoxication will be banned from the hall for 24 hours.

Anyone being disruptive or abusive to security personnel or staff, “regardless of the circumstances,” will not be granted access and could be denied access for longer periods of time.

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Stewart Burnett/NNSL file photo

STEWART BURNETT

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Arctic Connection store will benefit community

Rankin Inlet’s new Arctic Connection store opened to much fanfare Friday, Dec. 16.

It was a long time coming, but the outlet offers two locations – one with hard goods, another with groceries and takeout – open late all week, even serving takeout until midnight.

It’s easy to be a little bit tentative about rejoicing at first. The main restaurants in town close much earlier, with the Captain’s Galley ceasing orders before most people have showered after work. Only time will tell whether Arctic Connection can manage the

staffing and resources required to keep its operation running into the late night, every night.

Either way, the new stores are jam-packed. Combined, they’re much bigger than the other convenience stores in town, with a fresh, modern look and a diverse bounty of goods for sale. That is a win for Rankin Inlet.

Just as the Arctic Co-op helps keep a lid on Northern prices, the competition Arctic Connections brings will benefit all consumers in Rankin Inlet and those travelling through. It may

force other outlets to step up their game to keep up.

It can’t be easy or cheap for Arctic Connection to gamble on this new outlet. Staffing challenges alone are a nightmare for local businesses, let alone keeping a steady supply of freight. The store is about one block from Kativik and across the street from the Northern Store, offering direct competition to one of the major retailers in town.

Some customers are already raving about the prices and

cheap(ish) drinks. By coincidence, or not, EPLS/Home Hardware had a flash sale of cans of pop a few hours after the opening of Arctic Connection.

Many communities in the territory are stuck with only one or two grocery stores, usually Northern and Co-op. Rankin Inlet now has a solid handful, with several full grocery stores and convenience options.

Even if you don’t shop at Arctic Connection, its mere existence might bring down prices at the outlet closest to you and that benefits everyone.

No reason to stop here either – the more businesses that open up in town, the better for all of us.

STEWART BURNETT

Iqaluit takes home 2022 Polar Bear Plate

In a close, aggressive finals with Team Nunavut, the squad from Iqaluit took home the 2022 Polar Bear Plate trophy in Rankin Inlet Sunday, Dec. 18. They bested Team Nunavut 1-0 after an early goal off a misplay and two Nunavut goals that were called back. Team Nunavut finished second, with the Rankin Canucks in third. The Iqaluit roster included Josie Cote, Andrew Pearce, Justin Cox, Mason Angnakak, Brayden Uluqsi, Thomas Gray, Frederick Hutchings, Nathan Kelly, Solomon Goupil, Joseph Ashoona, Taukie Ipeelie, Nutaralaaq Hughes Lonsdale, Felix Dubeau, along with coaches Todd Gardner, Matthew Normand, Robert Comeau and Nate Gardner. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

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