Inuvik Works to receive $300K in next four years

Inuvik Works is set to receive $75,000 annually over the next four years through a contribution from a national non-profit.

The Canadian Women’s Foundation has allocated the cash through its Northern Women and Girls grant.

Inuvik Works, designed to help residents re-enter the workforce, had been inactive for some time before councillors voted last November to revive it. Part of that project involved restarting the Next to New thrift store.

Earlier this year, the town secured $28,375 from the NWT’s Department of Education, Culture and Employment for the program’s launch.

Patricia Davison, interim manager of the program, said the GNWT has since provided additional backing of just over $20,000 through its Waste Reduction and Recovery Program.

While the contribution agreement is still being finalized, the funding is already helping the project divert waste from the landfill. 

In their initial week, Davison said, the team successfully prevented roughly 2,343 lb of waste from being discarded. In May, the volume rose to 3,063 lb.

“We’re just barely getting started, right? We’ve just put the notice out for people to donate, so we’re really excited about that,” she told Cabin Radio.

Davison said five locals helped renovate the building and prepare the thrift store for operation. One of them stayed on to take a permanent role.

Linda Stewart, who recently became the Next to New administrator, has been overseeing the layout and pricing of items. A total of 11 employees are expected to be working under the program by the end of June, with four positions filled so far.

The shop isn’t open to customers yet but has been laid out into sections featuring houseware, home decor, crafts, hardware, sports gear, clothing, children’s items and even some vintage finds.

Since the project’s launch, one participant had the opportunity to begin working toward their Class 3 driver’s licence. Davison said the Gwich’in Tribal Council has also partnered with Inuvik Works to provide skill-building opportunities, with another individual preparing to take sawmill training later this week.

“That’s what our project is all about,” she said. “Helping people [achieve] whatever their goal is – their career path, their life path. Any time we help somebody move on, that’s a success for us.”

Davison said a volunteer with experience running thrift stores in Alberta spent a week and a half training the Next to New crew.

“I’m just so excited and so proud of everybody and the work that they’ve done,” she said.

“I think the community can really be proud of the space that the Inuvik crew has fixed up and the work that they’re going to be doing.

“Moving forward, it’s such a such an important initiative for Inuvik – the training and the support for people, plus the Next to New store, I believe is such an important initiative.”