The Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) held a strategic planning session in the community of Sanikiluaq from June 28th to June 29th, 2012. Facilitated by Jimmy Jacquard of Aarluk, the session brought together NIRB staff and board members, and provided an opportunity for both groups to discuss the future of NIRB as an organization.

The team reviewed the NIRB mission and vision statements to affirm the focus of the organization, then identified the key Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats impacting on NIRB's future.That information enabled the group to establish and prioritize goals, and define next steps for moving forward. Below is a shot of the NIRB crew with Jimmy at the end of the session, before heading to a community feast sponsored by NIRB (where many a hotdog was consumed, in addition to country foods):

Jimmy and Geoff "Big Rig" Rigby were impressed both by the energy and dedication of the NIRB crew, and by the hospitality of the community of Sanikiluaq. Luckily there was enough of a breeze during their stay that the resident mosquito population did not give them a warm welcome as well! Aarluk hopes this is the case when our work on the Sanikiliuaq Community Economic Development commences in the near future with the Municipality of Sanikiluaq. Time will tell!