November 19, 1998
New co-op food store in works for Iqaluit
Qiqiktaaluk Corp. and the Iqaluit Co-op agree to move forward with plans for the capital's first large-scale community-run business.
Nunatsiaq News
IQALUIT — A third major food and retail store in the capital could be open for business as early as next winter, thanks to an agreement between Qiqiktaaluk Corporation and the Iqaluit Co-op.
A memorandum of understanding was signed Friday clearing the way for development of a more detailed business plan, expected to be complete by the end of next January.
Since a movement to revive the co-op in Iqaluit began last year, steering committee member Mary-Ellen Thomas said the organization has increased its paid membership to 150, each member contributing $10.
Now that the co-op store is one step closer to reality, Thomas said adding new members should be even easier, especially since any membership drive will rely on word of mouth.
"You can't set up a table at the Northern Store and recruit members," Thomas said.
Initial projections call for the construction of brand new premises, on the order of 20,000 to 30,000 square feet in size. It would be the Iqaluit co-op's first full fledged retail store.
Hunter Tootoo, a member of the co-op steering committee overseeing the project, said a partnership with Qiqiktaaluk Corp. will give the new business access to credit that the co-op wouldn't have on its own, not to mention prime location.
One of the potential sites under discussion is the property that Qikiqtaaluk Corp. is currently leasing to the Office of the Interim Commissioner – the so-called Blue Igloo.
Qiqiktaaluk Corp. president Jerry Ell said increased competition in the capital's retail market is something that promises to benefit everyone in the community.
But Qiqiktaaluk Corp.'s role in the proposed business will be limited to developing and managing real estate property, he said. The co-op's own board of directors would manage the store.
The new store would be jointly owned by Qikiqtaaluk Corp. and the Iqaluit Co-op.