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Baffin businesses join forces with Labrador

Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce builds ties with Happy Valley-Goose Bay

CHARLOTTE PETRIE

The Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce tied the knot with Labrador business officials last week, in a move to develop a working relationship for expansion of each other's economic opportunities.

At the Voisey's Bay and Beyond trade show and conference in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Baffin's chamber of commerce signed a memorandum of understanding with the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce to create and share business opportunities.

Steve Cook, a director of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce, recently attended a conference in Labrador where some very promising ecomomic partnerships were created. (PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE PETRIE)

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Steve Cook, a director of the Baffin chamber, said the new link will enable the two chapters to work together in creating opportunities in Nunavut and Labrador.

Through NorthLink, a Labrador North chamber of commerce initiative, the new partnership was created.

NorthLink creates partnerships with chambers, economic development agencies and government departments around the north. Its officials help small and medium-sized enterprises by developing opportunities for domestic and international ventures.

By setting up meetings between Labrador and Nunavut business representatives, NorthLink facilitated discussion of economic opportunities for both communities.

Baffin chamber getting office

As a result, NorthLink agreed to help share the cost of setting up an office in Iqaluit that would house the two organizations' joint efforts.

One of the goals of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Iqaluit Chamber of Commerce was to at least have an office. NorthLink has agreed to share the cost of having an office, and hopefully, later on in the year, also help share the cost of an employee, thereby creating a link between Baffin and Labrador.

The new partnership is a first for the Baffin chamber of commerce, and may lead to other opportunities, in particular for the Iqaluit chamber of commerce.

"The municipality of Goose Bay-Happy Valley has invited the city of Iqaluit to twin with them - a symbolic gesture," Cook said.

Twinning occurs when two municipalities establish a relationship to promote tourism and a deeper awareness of each others' communities. For example, Cook explained, Iqaluit and Goose Bay-Happy Valley could set up a hockey tournament that would see each team travel to its opponent's communities.

"It's one more building block in a relationship which will eventually have an economic spin-off for each community," Cook said.

City council slow to respond

The suggestion was presented to city council last week, but members voted to table the issue until more information could be provided.

"Council, in their wisdom, said they needed more information, which was a little frustrating for us. But, it doesn't bother us too much. Some people just take a little longer to see the light," Cook remarked.

"One of the things I think some of our city officials should do is go down to Goose Bay-Happy Valley and they would be absolutely amazed at the outgoing nature of the community and the business community in particular.

"Everyone down there welcomed us with open arms - it was almost embarrassing. Some people have been here so long they've become bushed and really need to get out and see things, and realize that there are enthusiastic people who are really interested in our community."

Air Labrador, which began its Labrador-Iqaluit flight service earlier this year, is now filling its weekly flights and plans to add another aircraft to start services by the end of August. It's a reality that defies current trends in the slumping Canadian airline industry these days.

Travelers on Air Labrador pass through Happy Valley-Goose Bay on their way to Saint John's. As a result, more and more people are traveling through the two communities, making them ripe for new business prospects.

"We share a lot of similarities economically," Cook added. "They were also an isolated community for years until the Trans-Lab highway was created. We are both sort of in the north, both have large air fields, and both have similar populations with Iqaluit at 6,000 and Goose Bay at 7,800.

"And they have a large population of Inuit. We could learn a lot from them."

Trade talks between Labrador and Nunavut may also lead to the transfer of goods and services, especially with the addition of a second Air Labrador plane.

The 19 Nunavummiut who attended the June 23-25 conference, including representatives from the chamber, the government of Nunavut, and economic development associations and private businesses, came away pleased and excited.

Just prior to the conference the Iqaluit chamber of commerce held their annual general meeting, where new board members were elected.

Returning members are Steve Cook, Glenn Cousins, Shawn Lester and Betty-Ann Eaton. New members include Jeff Fowler, Cecilia White, Joe Kunuk, and Ed Devries.

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