Goulais Wedding Rehearsal To Be Televised

Wedding watchers will be thrilled to know that our very own Kory Goulais and his lovely bride-to-be Alison McDonald will be holding their full-dress wedding rehearsal today, Friday April 29 at 6:00 AM EST. Standing in for the special couple will be stunt-husband William Mountbatten-Windsor and stunt-fiance Kate Middleton as lighting and security measures are tested for the actual wedding day on May 14. The rehearsal will be broadcast on all major television networks; however, the real couple's nuptials will only be attended by the bride and groom's closest family and friends.

UPDATE: EXCLUSIVE INSIDE COVERAGE HERE from the concealed Consiliumcam!

Ann Mikijuk Hanson Joins Nunavut Media Arts Centre Team

Ann Mikijuk Hanson, one of the most respected figures in northern broadcasting, film and journalism, has joined the planning team supporting the construction of the Nunavut Media Arts Centre.

"There is absolutely no argument. We need a real Nunavut Media Arts Centre", said Ms. Hanson. "The Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, along with CBC radio and television are playing a big part in preserving Inuktitut language, culture, history, survival skills, humour, and all things Inuit way of life. It is ludicrous we are expected to produce high quality Inuktitut programming in run down old buildings, buildings that go back to Second World War, previously owned by American Military."

Ann Hanson (born May 22, 1946) studied community development at Saint Francis Xavier University and journalism at Nunavut Arctic College. She served as the Commissioner of Nunavut from April 21, 2005 until April 10, 2010. A committed volunteer, she has helped to start many organizations in Iqaluit, including the Juvenile Court Committee, the Elders Group, the Inuit Cultural Group, and the Quinuajuaq Society.

But she is perhaps best known across Canada as an actress, author, journalist, narrator, reporter and producer, with an impressive body of work within the CBC, the National Film Board and the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation.

From the Shores of Titicaca

The editors fired an email off into the ether yesterday, a short note to Greg Smith, asking, in essence, "Are you back from holidays yet?" The response, for those of you who think the only place we ever get stuck is Grise Fiord:

Not back quite yet - bus strike today in Peru, so Marianne and I are stuck another day in Copacabana on Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca. Internet slow but they have one computer so just checking in. Someone we met here (in La Paz and also here) is from Vancouver and working on a project with Aarluk - Brian Johnston, rec planning consultant.) Small world.  Also met a fascinating French couple our age doing blogs during 8 month tour, and they have a 3 book contract on return. Will be having trout aux capres with Bolivian white wine with them tonight.

Buzzwords and Royal Nuptials - The Weekly Poll

Last Week's Poll

We invited our readership to chose from among a list of annoying contemporary phrases and select the one that drives them to the brink of madness. In declining order of irritation, here are the buzzwords that set your collective teeth on edge.

"Tweet" - 45%

"Bleeding Edge" - 30%

"Competitive Advantage" - 15%

"Key..." - 5%

"Concerning" - 5%

Let's hope that fashionable entrepreneurs seeking their key competitive advantage on the bleeding edge of social marketing find that concerning.

This Week's Poll: The Royal Wedding
 

Here at Consilium we're trying to decide whether to close down for the afternoon or simply rent a huge screen TV for the Boardroom to do justice to this deeply significant event.  There are, unfortunately, a few in-house curmudgeons who are refusing to get into the spirit of it all, and insist that it's an overhyped, artificial exercise in cheap sentimentality and product placement. They're actually saying that most people would rather do anything than expose themselves to the Royal Merger. So we're giving you some options.

A Rare Cultural Resource

As Stonecircle finalizes its recommendations for a North Shore Ojibway Language strategy, one of the biggest gaps remains the lack of learning and teaching materials to promote literacy, in either indigenous or mainstream languages, for Aboriginal people.


Since 1996 NIngwakwe Learning Press, an Aboriginal publishing house based in Ontario, has worked to fill that gap. Their catalogue includes culturally relevant reading workbooks for different literacy levels, Aboriginal literacy and educator resources, histories, and how-to books that are both Aboriginal and Ontario-specific. In 2005, Ningwakwe published Jennifer David's first book, Story Keepers - Conversations with Aboriginal Writers; and today Jennifer is returning the favour.

Working with Pauline MacLeod Farley of MacLeod Farley Associates, Jennifer will be developing recommendations for a marketing and communication strategy to raise the profile of Ningwakwe as a unique and valuable resource for teachers, students, and anyone interested in Aboriginal culture or history. In the meantime, check them out at http://www.ningwakwe.on.ca/.

Can You Hear Me Now?

The world may get just a little bit more wired soon.

There are over 21 million cellular phone subscribers in Canada, with usage in urban areas as high as 80%. But many rural and northern communities don't have cell phone access, since Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) doesn't require cellular telephone providers to provide service to communities in remote areas.

The Hamlet of Igloolik is one of those unserved communities. Igloolik has always considered new technology carefully; the hamlet stood alone in Nunavut in refusing to allow television into their community until 1983 and the launch of IBC.  Now Igloolik has decided this wireless fad is something worth considering.

Fred Weihs and Geoff Rigby of Aarluk will be working with SAO Brian Fleming to examine options for a locally-owned cell phone service. If it all works out, Aarluk takes no responsibility for spam, tweet addiction, or regrettable calls made after midnight.

Have a safe and happy Easter!

We're shutting down the blog for the long weekend. Enjoy food, friends and family - we will be - and see you next week!

Happy Birthday to Terry and Ron!

The CCG Infrastructure Committee has been hard at work this week trying to find solutions to make the second floor more accessible now that Editor extraordinaire Terry Rudden and Ron "your friendly neighborhood facilitator" Ryan are adding another year under their belt and it gets harder and harder for them to climb up and down those stairs...

Unfortunately, the only solutions the Committee was able to come up with were firemen poles and sleds for the stairs -  which would make it easier for them to go down, but won't help them get back up.

Since no solution was found (and their birthdays just happen to fall on Saturday and Sunday respectively), the CCG (or Canada) has graciously given them Friday off instead... Happy Birthday Terry and Ron and rest up during the long weekend! Those stairs will be waiting for you come Monday morning...

Media Arts Centre For Nunavut

If all goes well, you're looking at what will soon become the new home of Super Shamou, Johnny the Lemming, and a host of other icons of northern broadcasting history. It's the Nunavut Media Arts Centre, a project launched by the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation and scheduled for completion just in time to mark the thirtieth anniversary of northern native broadcasting in 2013.

IBC’s first studio and training space was an abandoned classroom in the old adult education centre in Iqaluit; for over 20 year they have operated from rented facilities in a deteriorating one-story wooden building. The new facility, the first full-scale, state of the art, digital facility for audio/video, recording, performance and post production in Nunavut, will support local and territorial freelancers, performers, artists and production companies working in Nunavut. Its features will include:

• Studio production capacity suitable for live programming, including performance space and capacity for live studio audiences
• Office and post-production space for Inuit Communications Systems Limited
•The Inuit Film and Video Archive Centre, a storage and screening facility for preserving and storing the priceless collection of historic film and video shot by Inuit since the 1970s.

Support for the Centre has already been received from CanNor, the Qikiqtani and Kitikmeot Inuit Associations, the GN Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, the Department of Economic development and Transportation, and the Jackman Foundation.

As a foundational element of Nunavut's cultural infrastructure, the Media Arts Centre will assure wider and better coverage and promotion of Nunavut artists and performers in every field, bringing the very best of Nunavut to Canada and the world. With cutting-edge production capacity and a unique, made-in-Nunavut design, IBC and partners are creating a building that IBC President Madeleine d'Argencourt described as "...a landmark for Iqaluit, a showpiece for Nunavut and a milestone in our cultural history."

Who Are You?

Okay, we admit it. We're curious.

Since starting the blog we've been delighted by your response - both the kind notes we've received and the remarkable number of hits to the site every day. But one of the most interesting things we've discovered is our readership outside Canada.  "Ourtimes" now has followers in the United States, Pakistan, Singapore, Israel, Germany, Indonesia, Poland, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.

To all you folks reading us from overseas - welcome, wilkommen, shalom, 歡迎, khush aamdeed, dzień dobry, and marhaban! Drop us a line (ourtimes@consilium.ca) or post a comment, and tell us where you are, who you are, and how you found us!

A Toolkit For Hope

"Years ago our people were self-reliant...our life was hard but we lived like men. Then the government came and offered welfare to our people.


It was as if they had cut our throats.”

The late Harold Cardinal wrote that in 1969 in his seminal book, the Unjust Society. And unfortunately, the devastating effects of welfare dependency are still visible in many First Nation communities today.

In an effort to break the cycle, the Assembly of First Nations is assembling a toolkit of practical resources to help young people escape the trap of income and social assistance and find other life options in areas like education, training and employment.

Scott Black, Jennifer David and Kory Goulais of Stonecircle developed the approach and materials, working with Stephanie O'Brien, Donnie Garrow and Pierre Brascoupe at the AFN. Later this year, when the graphic design is complete,  AFN will distribute the resource to all First Nations across the country.

Sherlock Bradshaw and the Yarn of the Alien Tea Cozies

It began with a series of eerie manifestations, captured on film by teen sleuth Louise Lalande, popping up on on posts, hydro poles and trees around the area of the Consilium office - strange knitted objects, attractive, mysterious, and apparently without purpose.

Photos by Louise Lalande: Gladstone at Bank, Front of Church, and right outside our office.

We scratched our heads, discussed them at length, even mulled over while wool-gathering (pun intended).  Alien tea-cozies?  Larval quilts? Random Acts of Wool?

Our resident master of `le Mot Juste`, Jan Glyde of C.A.R.C. theorized "Guerrilla Knitting`. And a gruelling, exhausting investigation by Jennifer Bradshaw (well, a Google Search, actually) revealed just how close to the truth she was.

Jennifer's investigation uncovered a worldwide movement of artists who refer to themselves as "Knit Ninjas",  and engage in what they call knit graffiti or yarn-bombing. They're folks who enjoy little bit of whimsy, covertly deploying splashes of colour and a touch of mystery in gray urban landscapes.

As described in the Sacramento Bee:

``It began as a series of guerrilla strikes – the culprits sneaking out under cover of darkness, taking to the streets, tagging fire hydrants and sign poles.

With yarn.

Bright, knitted cozies have been appearing with increasing regularity on urban landscapes in cities around the world. ``

You can read more about these amiable eccentrics here.
And if you find yourself tickled at the notion of enlivening your visual landscape, you can look forward to breaking out on International Yarn Bombing Day, June 11, 2011.

Drinking With The Leaders And The Great Buzzword Poll

Here it is, the revelation you've all been waiting for - the results of last week's poll, and the New Poll for the week to come.

LAST WEEK'S POLL: DRINKING WITH THE LEADERS

Last week you were invited to tell us which national party leader you'd most like to share a drink with. Not necessarily who you'd vote for - just who you'd prefer to spend time with over a beer, a glass of wine, or a venti soy caramel frappichino extra whip.  Here, without comment (because we're not THAT kind of blog), are the results:

Jack Layton: 33%
Gilles Duceppe: 29%
Elizabeth May: 16%
Michael Ignatieff:  12%
Stephen Harper: 8%

We can only conclude that a clear  majority is as elusive on Canadian barstools as it is in Canadian ballot boxes.

THIS WEEK'S POLL: ANNOYING NEWSPEAK

We like language here. What we don't like is the proliferation of new, overused, irritating words and phrases that start cropping up in articles by self-proclaimed business gurus and overblogged social commentators and Übercool trendsetters that start filtering into everyday language. Having polled our in-house wordsmiths, we present a selection of our special unfavourites - feel free to list your own Most Annoying Buzzwords in the comments. We present for your odium the following offenses against the language.

"Key": a pointless attempt to make the insignificant seem extraordinary. "Key" findings, "Key" questions, "Key" informants...well, jeez, what are all those other informants? Chopped liver?

"Competitive Advantage": Never trust anyone who uses seven syllables where one syllable - "strength" - would suffice. And please explain what kind of "advantage" could ever be "NON-competitive"??

"Tweet": yeah, yeah, we know. Social networking is transforming the universe as we know it, and even the Vatican has a twitter feed. We don't care. Grown-ups shouldn't "Tweet". Find another name for it.

"Concerning": as in, "that new budgetary proposal is very concerning to us". Shudder.Why mangle a perfectly respectable adverb by treating it as an adjective?

"Bleeding edge": unless you're talking about an unsuccessful new shaving appliance. Characterizing as "bleeding edge" your bold decision to switch your corporate font from Arial to Calibri is just the teensiest bit- melodramatic, n'est-ce pas?

Morals versus Ethics - what's the difference and who cares anyway?

We are all brought up to believe that some things are right and other things are wrong. Or that certain behaviours are acceptable and other behaviours are not.

Different religious beliefs are the most obvious example, but even simple behaviours can cause miscommunication and misunderstanding. For example, people in one culture may be raised to believe that looking someone in the eye is disrespectful, while another culture may believe NOT looking someone in the eye is a sign of guilt.

So when we live in a society that is made up of many different people, with many different beliefs, behaviours and goals, how can we work together effectively?

Codes of Conduct are one way that a profession can communicate the type of behaviours (professional ethics) that can be expected from its members.

At Consilium, Aarluk and Stonecircle we are supporting all of our Consultants to become members of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants - and to complete the education, experience and professional development requirements for the Designation of Certified Management Consultant.

This membership carries with it the responsibility to accept, understand and live by the Uniform Code of Professional Conduct. The Code has four key areas of responsibility for members:

• Responsibilities to the Public;
• Responsibilities to the Profession;
• Responsibilities to Other Members; and
• Responsibilities to the Client.

These areas of responsibility cover everything from ensuring the client and our consultants fully agree on objectives, scope, workplans and costs; to conflict, confidentiality and fee arrangements.

Humanity's diversity of people, ideas and goals is a wonderful thing - but sometimes it's nice to have a little help when trying to provide the best solutions to our clients.

Doctor Evalik!

Congratulations to Charlie Evalik, President of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA), on his nomination by the University of Alberta Faculty of Science for an honorary degree of Doctorate of Laws. This is a well-deserved honour for his dedicated service over many years on behalf of the people of Kitikmeot and Nunavut, and indeed all of Canada. The Honorary Doctorate will be conferred at the university’s convocation ceremonies in June 2011.

Charlie was recently re-elected President of KIA. Previously, between 1996 and 2011, he served a total of 12 years as President of the Regional Inuit Organization. His current term as President will run until 2014. Throughout these years, a key focus for his work has been to promote the economic development of the Kitikmeot region – through negotiation of mining Inuit and Impact Benefit Agreements, Cooperation Agreements between Inuit and the Department of National Defence for clean-up of the DND DEW Line sites in Nunavut, and most recently the establishment of the Nunavut Resources Corporation (NRC).

The Nunavut Resources Corporation provides a vehicle for Inuit of Nunavut to pursue direct equity participation in major resource development in the territory. Earlier this year NRC signed two memoranda of understanding, with Sabina Gold and Silver Corporation and Shear Minerals, for cooperation between Inuit and the companies in the development of mining infrastructure.

Previously Charlie served both as a member of the Nunavut Implementation Panel and as a Chief Negotiator for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in negotiations on devolution with the Government of Canada.

J. BrAD's Things you didn't know: Why does laundry smell better when it's dried on a sunny day?



Source: Environment Canada

Here at the CCG, we do our very best to be green to ensure a long-lasting healthy life to the home we all share, planet Earth. Our Environmental Guru / Receptionist Jennifer Bradshaw is always looking for ways to make our office greener, and in her research, sometimes falls on tips that we can all use at home. Like this one:

Q -Why does laundry smell better when it's dried on a sunny day?

A - When garments are left out to dry in the sun, leftover oil and perspiration in the fabric (odor-causing compounds) are broken down through a chemical reaction called photolysis. The compounds' reaction to sunlight lessens smelly residue, making fresh laundry smell cleaner-and greener! Credit: http://www.uncommongoods.com/

Boston Seafood Extravaganza!



Brian preparing himself for yet
another day at the tradeshow.

In what must be the coolest gig so far this year, noted seafood lover David Boult was tickled pink (no photo available) to be invited to attend the Boston Seafood Show in March. Held in, well, Boston, the international seafood show attracts hundreds of businesses from around the world.   

This year, David and esteemed colleague, Brian Burke, attended the trade show to gather critical information for a fish marketing strategy being developed for the Government of Nunavut’s Department of the Environment in partnership with Kapwa Communications.


Not the vehicle Brian rented for the trip.

David and Brian diligently worked their way through a staggering amount of seafood products from sushi to shrimp sui mei in their energetic pursuit of the perfect product. David was reportedly a little disappointed when he was informed that some actual research had to be done. Between the wonderful reception hosted by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the superb dinner provided by the Government of Nunavut, David was pleased to be able to combine work and pleasure in a perfect balance.
 
Quote from trade show “Aarluk travel hint #43 – Always pack a pair of stretchy pants as you never know when you will run into an abundant supply of seafood”. 

Happy Birthday to Greg and Leslie!

In many countries and cultures around the world, the number 13 is associated with bad luck. Well, here at the Consilium Consulting Group, the 13th day of April is considered to be a very lucky day. Without this day, the CCG would not have our evaluation guru Greg Smith or our Consilium Manager extraordinaire Leslie Sutherland.

Greg will be celebrating his birthday by taking a vacation to Brazil and Peru, while Leslie will be celebrating hers with a Human Resource exam. To each their own? Happy Birthday Greg and Leslie!

We Smoke Fish, not Tobacco!

Aboriginal communities and organizations are mounting impressive campaigns and programs to get people to quit smoking: from videos to mentorships, to Elder discussions about the traditional use of tobacco. In fact, one of the best lines on the matter came from an Elder and was printed on a promotional poster from a BC organization: We Smoke Fish, not Tobacco!

The Assembly of First Nations contracted Stonecircle to help them with their First Nation smoking cessation initiative: a Tobacco Forum called What will feed our Fire? Advancing Knowledge, Development, Translation, Transfer & Exchange on Tobacco Cessation, Control and Prevention in First Nations.

The Tobacco Forum held in Saskatoon in February was attended by approximately 100 people. Our logistical expert, Patti Black coordinated the forum, while Stonecircle associate Shelley Thomas Prokop facilitated it, with Kory Goulais as the on-site logistical coordinator and all around software expert (Stonecircle uses a conference management software called Cvent to develop mailing lists, badges and individualized agendas). Following the forum, Stonecircle Manager Jennifer David edited the final forum report.

Community Wellness in Nunavut

Community wellness programs play an inherent part of a community's overall well-being. Over the past three years, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) has been leading the Nunavut Community Wellness Project (NCWP), a community wellness planning pilot project in six Nunavut communities: Arviat, Clyde River, Coral Harbour, Igloolik, Kugaaruk and Kugluktuk.

An interesting feature of the evaluation was the participatory nature of the research; the project team included Steering Committee members from the Government of Nunavut and Health Canada, as well as community development specialists. James Arreak was the Project Coordinator for NTI, and Credentialed Evaluator Greg Smith led the Aarluk evaluation team, with assistance from Alex Ker.

Greg and Alex provided initial advice on project planning for the evaluation component, including development of a logic model, and data collection and reporting tools, and sat in on most Steering Committee meetings as observers. As part of her research for the evaluation, Alex also travelled to four of the six pilot communities involved in the project, and both Greg and Alex attended a meeting in Iqaluit last October where the communities presented their wellness plans. Aarluk has now submitted its final report on the NCWP to NTI.

The Youth Vote

A contribution to the national effort to get younger voters out by Jonah Smith.

Inclusion Works!

Here's a trivia question. What's the fastest growing demographic in Canada, a group that represents the largest potential contribution to the labour market?

If you guessed Aboriginal Youth, you're right. And yet mainstream employers have been slow to connect with this important human resource. That's where the Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRC) enters the picture. AHRC seeks to link the growing poll of trained, educated and eager Aboriginal workers with career and employment opportunities.

In May AHRC will be hosting Inclusion Works, its annual job fair and Aboriginal HR conference, in Montreal - and Stonecircle will be there to help. Jennifer David and Kory Goulais are preparing 20 detailed case studies on businesses that have incorporated policies or practices that encourage Aboriginal inclusion and Aboriginal recruitment and retention.These will be presented at Inclusion Works to stimulate some discussion and creative thinking about the challenges, successes and issues in Aboriginal HR, under the capable facilitation of Aarluk's Victor Tootoo.

INCLUSION WORKS '11: May 3-5, 2011. Le Centre Sheraton, 1201 Boulevard Rene-Levesque West, Montreal, QC.

There's Only One Name For Adventure....

As some of you may know, our own Terry Rudden leads a double life. A humble consultant and blog editor by day, he becomes, when the moon is full, a writer and narrator of videos about exotic scuba locations. Terry and his director/producer/dive buddy, Genie-nominated filmmaker  George Hargrave, are traveling this week to the Caymans to shoot a new episode in their "Another Dive In Paradise". Here's a clip from their first Cayman video: and here's a preview of the new show.

Five Warning Signs of Consultantitis: or, How To Tell When You Don't Need Us.

We shouldn't really be telling you this. We should be keeping it a secret. After all, everyone knows that consultants are greedy, rapacious sharks whose only interest is creating work for themselves. Right?

Wrong. The consulting industry, like any other profession, has its share of less-than-ethical practitioners. But almost all the consultants we know - and certainly all the consultants we work with - are interested in solving your problems and building up your capacity, not in wasting your money.

So as a public service, here are five key questions you should ask yourself before you give us - or ANY consulting firm - a call.

Canada: Pirate Nation!

In a surprising last minutes surge, the Pirate Party overcame an initial lead by the Work Less Party to form Canada's next government - in the Consilium Poll, anyway. Final tally was Pirate Party hacking their way into the lead with 43%: Work Less Party slacking off to 34%: the Rhinoceros Party horning in with 3%: and of course, the Marijuana Party got smoked with a mere 2%.

Okay, new poll for this week. Which of the national party leaders would you most like to have a beer with? We're not talking sharing their policy views, attending their rallies or voting for their party. We're just curious: who do you think would be the best company over a pint?

Construction R Us! Supporting Small Business in the NWT and Nunavut.

There's a simple reason so many major construction projects in Nunavut and the NWT go to southern contractors;  many northern companies simply can't compete.

It's not about price or quality - small northern firms often do outstanding work at competitive rates. But to bid on a large scale project requires letters of credit and/or bid bonds; and many smaller, northern companies just can't muster the financial backing.

The National Aboriginal Contractor Support Corporation is now working on a program to level the playing field for these smaller companies. Northern contractors will be able to apply through a number of regional business development organizations in the territories for the support they need to compete against larger southern firms, ensuring that a greater share of profit, jobs and training remain in the North.

Along with Ayaya, an Inuit-owned design firm, Stonecircle is creating material to inform northerners of this new product, and to encourage them to apply for support. Jennifer David  is providing the creative touch and Chuck the business know-how. Keep your eyes open for a release before the end of  April.

Vote NOW to Prevent a Minority Government

If you've been following the weekly CCG poll (the ONLY poll that matters, upper right on this page), you will have noted that the Pirate Party (36%) and the Work Less Party (42%) are running neck and neck, with the Marijuana Party and Rhinoceros Party distant seconds at 10% each.

This is, frankly, an intolerable situation. In order to govern effectively, either the Pirates or the Work-lessers are going to have to enlist the support of both the Rhinocerians and Marijuanites.  And what kind of dog's breakfast of a government will THAT be?

You have been warned. You have one day left in which to vote and rescue us from the prospect of country governed by a coalition of dope fiends and dadaists. Do Your Duty- visit our poll and vote - before it's too late.

Facebook Party of Nunavut Dissolves in Acrimony

(IBC Investigative Division) An indignant Victor Tootoo today denied a story published on this blog last week, repudiating any involvement with the so-called 'Facebook Party of Nunavut' and stating categorically that "I am not and have never been associated with any Facebook faction, My Space movement, or Linked-In lobby."

As for calls that the Senate be abolished, Tootoo stated categorically that was not his opinion. "I may have said that the Ottawa SENATORS should be abolished. The Leafs, for sure. But not the Senate."

Asked how these extreme views came to be attributed to him, Tootoo was uncertain, but speculated: "People should always read press releases extra carefully when they're dated April 1st."

Coming Soon - 867-979- VETS!

• "I have a neutered male cat. How old should he be before I can breed him?"
• "What should I feed a borderline collie?"
• "How do I stop my cat from giving food to the dog?"
• "Will chewing pop cans remove enamel from my puppy's teeth?"
• "Where can I get a six-toed cat?"

In every province and territory in Canada - except one - people can get the answer to questions like these with a quick call to their local Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The one place in Canada you CAN'T call a local vet for advice - or for care - is Nunavut.

Until now. But Chuck Gilhuly and Geoff Rigby, with the help of Doctor Thierry Asselin of the Alta Vista Animal Hospital, are working with a determined young Inuit entrepreneur to change that.

The Aarluk team is preparing a business plan for Nunavut's first full veterinary clinic. It's the dream of a lifetime for Leia Cunningham of Iqaluit, who has long hoped to be able to offer veterinary services in her home town. If all goes well, Leia's dream - and the hopes of pet owners in the Territory's capital city - will come true in two stages: this spring, when she completes her degree in veterinary sciences, and later this year in December when Canada's first Inuit-run veterinary clinic opens in Iqaluit. Stay tuned. 

A New Vision for Health

The Department of Health and Social Services of the Government of Nunavut has one of the most complex mandates imaginable - to address health needs of children and youth, to deal with mental health and addictions, to fight chronic disease and promote injury prevention, and to deliver Inuit home and community care, all in a region with three official language, a sparse and widely distributed population, and limited resources.

Funding for these and other programs is provided under an agreement with Health Canada; and that agreement is coming up for a negotiated renewal.

One of our Older New Arrivals

Err..that didn't come out very well, did it? What we MEANT to say was that the lovely and talented Patti Black, who has been working as an honoured associate for more than ten years, has finally joined Consilium on staff. Again. Never mind. As the Facebookers say...it's complicated. Suffice to say, we're delighted to welcome Patti to the ranks of full time consultants.

Patti (aka the Conference Queen),  has been the linchpin of our association with the Land Claims Agreement Coalition, and is currently working with IBC on their Nunavut Media Arts Centre project. If you've got a conference to plan, funds to raise, proposals to be prepared or writing to be done...she's the man. Err...that didn't come out very well either,  did it...

The Facebook Party of Nunavut

In a surprise announcement, Aarluk Vice President Victor Tootoo today announced his candidacy for the newly-formed Facebook Party of Nunavut. "We have never been well served by a Party System that reflects the practices and beliefs of southern Canada,", said Tootoo, a former Deputy Minister of the Government of Nunavut. "The time has come for a new model of governance that reflects the growing sense of community that binds us together. I believe that model is the Facebook Party." The Party's Platform is straightforward, says Tootoo.

1. Abolish the Senate, and replace it with a Facebook page. All legislation will be passed or defeated depending on the number of "Likes" it receives.


2. Political parties will be replaced by Facebook Groups. Leadership will be assigned on the basis of who scores highest in the "My BFF" app.


3. Hansard will be replaced by a team of live-bloggers with Twitter accounts.


4. The Canadian Revenue Agency will henceforth collect all taxes by Paypal.


5. Management of government will be restructured to reflect a more entertaining and user-friendly interface. Agriculture-Agrifoods Canada, for example, will be replaced by a massive "Farmville" group: Canadian Foreign policy will be determined by how many people in other countries accept our Friend Requests.

Representatives of other parties in Nunavut could not be reached for comment.

April 1, 2011

Doing Business in Nunavut

Aarluk Vice-President and General Manager Victor Tootoo was featured in the March Edition of Business Development Magazine, in a special article entitled "Nunavut's Business" by Racelle Kooy.  The article summarizes observations from Victor and Iqaluit Mayor Madeleine Redfern, and focuses largely on two critical areas for supporting the growing private sector: strengthening environmentally responsible economic development, and power generation in Nunavut.

In Victor's words, “To reduce the dependency is beneficial a number of ways: better for the environment and creates less of a strain on the existing power generation systems.”

The entire issue can be found online here.