Feature stories

Individuals and businesses making a difference in the lives of Northerners and their communities across Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Yukon. Here are their stories and how CanNor supported them in their success.

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Katie Young, owner of Klondike Kettle Corn, at the Fireweed Market.

Klondike Kettle Corn - a business bursting with quality, creativity and drive

If you have ever made popcorn, you can appreciate the gradually-explosive nature of the process. First, the kernels sit in oil while things heat up. After a while, a single kernel pops followed swiftly by a couple more. Suddenly, the batch explodes and the container overflows with the fluffy stuff. That delicious, distinct smell lingers in the air for hours, keeping the delightful snack top-of-mind for the next time the craving strikes.

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Region	Category	Stories
Yukon	Women entrepreneurs	Klondike Kettle Corn - a business bursting with quality, creativity and drive If you have ever made popcorn, you can appreciate the gradually-explosive nature of the process. First, the kernels sit in oil while things heat up. After a while, a single kernel pops followed swiftly by a couple more. Suddenly, the batch explodes and the container overflows with the fluffy stuff. That delicious, distinct smell lingers in the air for hours, keeping the delightful snack top-of-mind for the next time the craving strikes. Region: Yukon Category: Women entrepreneurs
Yukon	Accommodation and food services, Tourism	BonTon & Company - Retail and Production Expansion From the moment you step foot in Dawson City, you can feel the culture, history and legend that make it so iconic. Old Western-style buildings sink sideways into the earth against the backdrop of hills and mountains that reach for the sky, a contrast that complements the diverse shops, restaurants and hotels that line the streets. Region: Yukon Category: Accommodation and food services, Tourism
Nunavut	Tourism	"The Pants" or Qarlinngua, near Arctic Bay. (Source: Travel Nunavut) Travel Nunavut works to keep territory in the spotlight Tourism operators and tourist-dependent businesses across Canada operate in a competitive sector, and Nunavut businesses face further logistical challenges to draw visitors and reach markets. That's why CanNor supported two initiatives by Travel Nunavut to provide extra tools and resources for local businesses to expand their operations, increase visibility and make Nunavut a destination of choice for Canadians. Region: Nunavut Category: Tourism
Northwest Territories	Tourism	Frontier Lodge is located on the Stark River, across from the community of Łutsël K'é, and adjacent to Thaidene Nëné. (Source: Frontier Lodge) Frontier Lodge – Developing New Tourism Markets (NWT) Frontier Lodge, owned and operated by the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation, offers tourists access to world class fishing, northern lights viewing, cultural activities, guided hikes and wildlife viewing. The lodge is located on the Stark River, across from the community of Łutsël K'é, and adjacent to Thaidene Nëné. Tourist access to the lodge is available from Yellowknife via a chartered or scheduled flight directly to Łutsël K'é, and then a short 5-minute boat crossing. Region: Northwest Territories Category: Tourism
Yukon	Skills development, Arts and Culture	Local crews work behind the scene. Northern Canada Producer Accelerator Canada's territories are full of big, bold stories to tell, and many talented people ready to bring them to life. That is why the Screen Production Yukon Association (SPYA), a non-profit society and the primary industry organization supporting the Yukon film and screen media, is working in partnership with the Northwest Territories Professional Media Association, Yukon Media Development, and the Northwest Territories Film Commission to deliver the Northern Canada Producer Accelerator (NCPA). Region: Yukon Category: Skills development, Arts and Culture
Yukon	Women entrepreneurs, Business development, Tourism	Tutchone Tours owner and operator Teri-Lee Isaac stands in front of the Fort Selkirk sign. Tutchone Tours Boat and Trailer Purchase Imagine yourself in the middle of the Yukon wilderness. You're on the territory's largest river on a beautiful summer day, spotting Dahl mountain sheep and hearing about Yukon First Nation history through the eyes of a local Indigenous guide. After an hour, you'll arrive at Yukon's largest historic site, Fort Selkirk, better known as the Hücha Hudän, "People of the flat land." Experiences such as this are offered by Tutchone Tours, a tourism business based in Pelly Crossing. Region: Yukon Category: Women entrepreneurs, Business development, Tourism
Northwest Territories	Entrepreneurship, Business Development	Eric Binion, Co-Founder & CEO, Barren Ground Coffee, stands beside their Diedrich coffee roasting equipment. Barren Ground Coffee's Beanormous Expansion Barren Ground Coffee, a family run coffee roaster and espresso bar in downtown Yellowknife, underwent a 'beanormous' expansion and then reopened their retail coffee shop, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Region: Northwest Territories Category: Entrepreneurship, Business Development
Nunavut	Entrepreneurship, Business development	Staff with Arctic UAV prepare a drone for launch Arctic UAV flies high Arctic UAV, located in Iqaluit, Nunavut, offers a unique perspective on the North… one from well above the ground. Region: Nunavut Category: Entrepreneurship, Business development
Northwest Territories	Resource development	Ore Sorter on site at the Nechalacho Rare Earth Demonstration Project Nechalacho Rare Earth Demonstration Project Cheetah Resources Ltd.'s Nechalacho Rare Earth Demonstration Project, located 100 kilometres southeast of Yellowknife, is entering its production phase. Cheetah is the first Canadian producer of rare earth element oxides, which are used in technologies that are helping move Canada to a low carbon economy, such as the manufacturing of electric vehicles, renewable energy production and electronics. Region: Northwest Territories Category: Resource Development
Nunavut	Skills development	Emily Canfield teaching coding concepts at the Iqaluit Makerspace Pinnguaq Association TE(a)CH program - Nunavut The Pinnguaq Association, located in Iqaluit, Nunavut, has had remarkable success in developing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) skills through innovative technology, art and play. Founded in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, in 2012, the Pinnguaq Association supports participants and takes them from their first coding lesson to opportunities in employment and production of their own original ideas. Region: Nunavut Category: Skills development
Yukon	Community development/infrastructure, Tourism	Sky view of the Grey Mountain Trail (photo courtesy of the Government of Yukon) Grey Mountain Trail When BYTE – Empowering Youth Society set out to help and empower young Yukoners in 1998, they decided to do so by facilitating experiential and innovative workshops on topics important to youth. They organized events and other opportunities to provide youth with the necessary tools and skills to lead happy, healthy and meaningful lives. Region: Yukon Category: Community development/infrastructure, Tourism
Yukon	Agriculture/Agri-food, Business development, Entrepreneurship	Yukon Provisions Partners (photo courtesy of Sydney Olan, Yukon Chocolate Company) Yukon Chocolate Company The Yukon Chocolate Company is a family owned and operated company based in Whitehorse, Yukon. They are known for using high quality raw cocoa from around the world to create their products. Region(s): Yukon Category(s): Agriculture/Agri-food, Business development, Entrepreneurship
Yukon	Women Entrepreneurs	Joella Hogan, owner of Yukon Soaps Company. (Photo by Jenny Imbeau) Yukon Soaps Company The Yukon Soaps Company has been fostering authentic experiences and bringing life to the heart of Yukon for more than 20 years through the creation of beautiful, handcrafted and Indigenous artisan soaps, shampoo bars and essential oil blends. Region(s): Yukon Category(s): Women Entrepreneurs
Northwest Territories	Entrepreneurship	Makerspace YK's 'tool bus' project offered a tool lending library in Yellowknife; now they will have a permanent working space. (Photo courtesy of Makerspace YK) Makerspace YK building working space through S.T.E.A.M Makerspace YK is starting a three-year project to build a S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) focused community space. This new space will support Yellowknife's small businesses, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists by providing an affordable commercial working space that offers the use of tools, equipment, and infrastructure on a membership basis. Region(s): Northwest Territories Category(s): Entrepreneurship
Nunavut	Arts and culture	Master printer Qavavau Manumie working at Kinngait Studios located in the Kenojuak Cultural Centre. (Photo courtesy of Kinngait Studios) Kenojuak Cultural Centre and Print Shop The Kinngait Studios housed at the Kenojuak Cultural Centre and Print Shop is the country's best-known Inuit artist studio, and the oldest fine art printmaking facility in Canada. The studio has been at the heart of Kinngait (Cape Dorset) for over half a century. Region(s): Nunavut Category(s): Arts and culture
Northwest Territories	Women Entrepreneurs	Entrepreneur Amy Maund out foraging near Yellowknife, NT Laughing Lichen Laughing Lichen's owner Amy Maund proudly owns and operates a northern-based wildcrafting business, located just outside of Yellowknife. Region(s): Northwest Territories Category(s): Women Entrepreneurs
		Economic Growth Follows Effective Regulatory Process in Canada's North Archived Canada's North is rich with natural resources and holds tremendous potential in resource development. This sector is a major economic driver in the country and fosters growth in other sectors, such as communications, energy and transportation infrastructure, and commercial services.
		Developing the Film Production Sector in Nunavut Archived The North – its people, its landscapes, and its communities – is increasingly being used to create Canadian and international films. In the past few years, several films have been shot in Iqaluit, Nunavut and production companies are looking for skilled local labour.
		Creating Mobile Arctic Laboratories Archived The Arctic Research Foundation, a private not-for-profit organization, accessed $1.75 million in CanNor funding to develop six mobile laboratories using refurbished sea containers in Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. These mobile labs allow scientists to conduct research directly in the Arctic in areas such as geoscience, archeology, fisheries, and marine science.
		Diversifying the NWT Forestry Sector through Biomass Archived The Government of the NWT's Department of Environment and Natural Resources led this project with the collaboration of Indigenous and Métis groups in the NWT. Together, they negotiated Forest Management Agreements and successfully implemented a long-term General Development Plan (GDP) to support job creation and business opportunities in the forest industry, particularly in Indigenous and Métis communities.
		Marketing Campaign Increases Visits to the Land of the Midnight Sun Archived The Government of Yukon's Tourism Branch (Tourism Yukon), with the support of CanNor funding, launched Yukon Now in 2014. Yukon Now is a tourism marketing campaign aimed at increasing both awareness of Yukon as a tourist destination, and international and domestic tourism to Yukon.
		Making Space for Yukon Entrepreneurial Spirit Archived Entrepreneurs face many challenges when trying to successfully launch a start-up, especially when their business model involves the development of new tools and products. In the North, with limited access to equipment and workspace, these barriers are even more difficult for individual proprietors and small and medium-sized enterprises to overcome.
		Growth of the Agriculture Sector in NWT Archived Head of the Lines Services (HOTLS), an Aboriginal business in Fort Simpson, NWT, is using CanNor funding to research and develop hydroponic technology with the intent to build a commercial greenhouse in the community. Using this technology, it is anticipated that plants will grow faster in optimum temperatures and insects and diseases will be eliminated. In addition, the labour to harvest the plants will be significantly reduced.
		Preparing Inuvialuit Businesses and Communities for Economic Diversification Opportunities Archived In 2014-15, the Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization (ICEDO) launched a series of Regional Opportunity Readiness Initiatives over five years to increase economic opportunities for Inuvialuit businesses and communities across multiple sectors.
		Improving access to the Labour Market in Nunavut, Yukon or Northwest Territories Archived Delivered by the three northern colleges, the Northern Adult Basic Education Program (NABEP) is improving access to basic skills such as literacy and numeracy so working age adults are better positioned to participate in the northern labour market. Starting in fiscal year 2011-12, NABEP provided $27 million over five years to the three territorial colleges: Yukon College, Aurora College, and Nunavut Arctic College. Read more about how we help in Nunavut, Yukon or Northwest Territories.