Iqaluit announces Volunteer Appreciation Award winners

ARTS AND CULTURE  FEB 16, 2022 – 5:28 PM EST

Iqaluit announces Volunteer Appreciation Award winners

Recipients of 2021 Awards include longtime music host, young bicycle mechanic

The City of Iqaluit is honouring outstanding volunteers in the community, including a teenage bicycle mechanic and a long-time music host.

Aleksey Cameron, a spokesperson for the city, announced the winners of Iqaluit’s 2021 Volunteer Appreciation Awards in a news release Wednesday. The awards highlight the contributions of outstanding community members:

• The Iqaluit Angel Tree, led by Tina Morrissey, received the Outstanding Volunteer Service Organization Award for their “compassion and generosity in supporting Iqaluit families during the holidays,” Cameron said. The non-profit organization provides gifts for children of families in need during the Christmas season.
• Coaches and siblings Sean Clark and Stephanie Clark were given the Outstanding Volunteer Sports & Recreation Award for their work with the Iqaluit Breakers Swim Club. They were honoured for giving “their time, effort and experience and for providing a safe and fun environment for the youth of Iqaluit to take part in a recreational swim club.”
• The Outstanding Volunteer Youth Award went to Joseph Takpannie for his work gathering and fixing discarded bicycles from the landfill to give to the kids of Iqaluit. The 13-year-old was recognized for his “kind heart and ingenuity” in helping kids in his community get their own bicycles, Cameron said.
• The Ikayuqtimarik Award, or the “Good Helper” Award, went to Elisapi Aningmiuq for “her continued community engagement with multiple community groups” to meet the needs of Iqalummiut. Aningmiuq is a cultural teacher and counsellor known for her work with the Tukisigiarvik Wellness Centre.
• Matty McNair, long-time host and facilitator of the “Strings and Things” weekly evening music sessions, was given the Outstanding Volunteer Award for Arts & Culture. The sessions are open to musicians of all ages and levels and are a great opportunity to “have a fun, healthy and safe venue to enjoy sharing, learning and playing new music,” Cameron said.
• Jason Rochon received the Community Development Award for his work starting a food bank for children at the Joamie School six years ago, and for the creation of the Breakfast in a Bag Programthat has provided food to children during the pandemic. “He knew children in his workplace needed access to food to take home for lunches or at the end of the day for dinner,” Cameron said. “He recognized the need and took action.”