Happy National One Hit Wonder Day!
(September 25)

A day to salute those deeply mediocre bands who flashed - once - in the pan of our collective memory, and faded forever, without a trace. Hey, remember Free (All Right Now)? Gary Numan (Cars)? The Divinyls (I Touch Myself)? Billy Ray Cyrus (Aky Breaky Heart)? Shocking Blue (I'm Your Venus)? Of course you do. No need to be ashamed. But just think how nice it would be to have all those neurons back...

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CONSILIUM, AARLUK and ARDOS... In this corner of our site we'll be posting notes on new people, new projects, and new online materials you may find interesting. Enjoy, and come back often.

NEW PARTNER

Now here's an announcement you don't see very often...in fact, you haven't seen it for eleven years. Consilium is delighted to welcome a new partner to the family. David Boult has been a valued associate since Consilium was incorporated. As a writer, researcher, policy developer and evaluator, he's participated in several of our most important and challenging projects. Earlier this year David decided to join the team as a partner, thus consummating a ten-year courtship.

 

NEW HOME

 

As you read this newsletter, the final layer of paint is drying on the walls of our new home, and files are being feverishly stuffed into boxes in preparation for our move to 488 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa, ON K1R 5N8. September 23rd is the big day: with luck, you won't notice any down-time at all. Our telephone and fax numbers will remain the same. Once we've had a chance to unpack, drop by for a visit and a tour; and keep your eyes on this site for announcement of our open house. 

NEW PROJECTS

Aarluk will be working with Arctic College and the Municipal Training Organization of Nunavut to deliver a series of 19 workshops over the next year to municipal employees in 12 communities. This ambitious and comprehensive project was developed by MTO, under the direction of Executive Director Chuck Gilhuly, to provide Hamlet employees with opportunities for training, professional development, and advancement.

 

Aarluk has been selected by the GN's Department of Culture, Elders, Language and Youth (CLEY) to evaluate the Inuktitut language component of the Canada-Nunavut Cooperation Agreement. This recognizes English and French, Canada's two official languages, and provides a framework and funding for the maintenance and development of Inuktitut. Greg Smith will be Project Manager, working with Aarluk partners Terry Forth and Helen Klengenberg, associates Jonah Kilabuk, and Inuktitut language research specialist Professor Louis-Jacques Dorais of Laval University.

 

Kakivak Association was created in 1990 by QIA to promote development for Inuit in the Qikiqtani region by providing business development assistance, employment and training programs, support for childcare facilities, and assistance for disabled Inuit. As part of their strategic planning process, Kakivak will be conducting a major review of its program policies and procedures, and of client satisfaction with the organization's services. Aarluk will be supporting Kakivak through a series of stakeholders interviews, an extensive client survey, and a policy and procedures analysis.

Avataq Cultural Institute has asked Consilium to lead a strategic planning process for the Institute in the context of planning for self-government in Nunavik. Avataq is well known for its extensive and long standing work promoting and preserving the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Inuit of northern Quebec. Avataq organizes elders conferences, archaeology projects, local museums, historical and genealogical research, and has an extensive archive and documentation collection, including many publications it has created. The planning team will include Greg Smith, Ron Ryan, Carol Rowan and Jobie Weetaltuk.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Terry Forth, Fred Weihs, Chris Grosset and Ryan Lotan are currently hard at work on a study to develop options for the management and delivery of the Ukkusiksalik Community Initiative Fund. The $3 million fund is a key component of the Inuit Impact Benefits Agreement, signed last August between the Kivalliq Inuit Association and Parks Canada. The study includes consultations with key stakeholders in Chesterfield Inlet, Repulse Bay, Coral Harbour, Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet. The consultants will be examining community economic development plans already in place and gathering suggestions from community representatives as to how they feel the Fund can be used most effectively.

The Draft Final Report on the Evaluation of the Benefits and Measures provided under the Canada-Nunavut Labour Market Development Agreement has been provided to HRSDC by Project Manager Greg Smith. Research for the evaluation has taken place over the past year, in collaboration with Transpolar Technologies and EKOS Research Associates. The final report will incorporate suggestions from the Joint Evaluation Committee, made up of representatives of HRSDC and the Government of Nunavut.

HAPPY ENDINGS

Ron Ryan helped to facilitate the Aboriginal Affairs Directorate/HRSDC 's National NARAM Workshop, where Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement holders came together to sort out how best to allocate the various funding programs under the AHRDS - Labour Market, Youth, Disability, Capacity Building and Urban. Work continues on this allocation model, with another AHRDA conference slated for

October.

GOSSIP

Actually practicing what they preach, the Consilium Partners (including new partner David Boult...were you paying attention above?) met for a two day strategic planning session in Pakenham in mid August. Why Pakenham? Because it has the longest five span stone bridge in North America, of course. 

 

 

 

Leslie Sutherland and David Forster escaped to cottage country near Ompah for a richly deserved week of Consilium-free rest and recreation.

ARDOS president Valerie Assinewe has joined the Natural Health Products Directorate of Health Canada. She'll be helping to assess the safety and efficacy of natural health products, in accordance with Canada's new national regulations. Special bonus: Valerie will be working with her fellow labmates from her years in graduate studies, including Dr. Semir Omar, Nana Bafi-Yeboa, and Priyantha Wijeweera - under the direction of her external thesis evaluator, Dr. Robin Marles.

 

 

And Speaking of Moves...Ron Ryan completed his move to Bell St. without incident, in the time-honoured Pizza-Beer-and-a-Borrowed-Half-Ton-Truck tradition. He appears to be adjusting to home ownership reasonably well...but Kathy's not back from Toronto...yet.

And Speaking even MORE of Moves...Consilium associate Blair Stevens, spouse Johanna and baby Sampo will be moving back to Canada after a year in Finland this fall.

 

 

And Speaking STILL MORE of Moves (career ones, this time)...two new folks joined the Consilium and Aarluk teams too late for this month's newsletter deadlines. Watch for the announcement and their profiles next month.

TEN YEARS AGO

Ron Ryan and Terry Rudden prepared a draft set of bylaws for the Transition Team that would shortly evolve into the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.

Terry Rudden and Greg Smith wrote the first of several policy analyses for the Department of Canadian Heritage, summarizing the policy issues facing Northern and Aboriginal broadcasters funded by the Department.

CHECK BACK EVERY MONTH FOR MORE CONSILIUM NEWS, TOOLS, AND GOSSIP.