Victor Sammurtok School (VSS) teacher Glen Brocklebank has been named to a prestigious position within the Arctic Inspiration Prize organization.
Brocklebank said the journey started when he was first approached about taking a position on the Arctic Inspiration Prize's national selection committee this past December, which he politely declined but asked to be kept in mind for any future positions that he may be suited for.
He said he was then contacted again in early January and asked if he would consent to his name, as one of three past winners, to be put forward for a laureate trustee position.
"Our qayak program at VSS received a huge benefit from the Arctic Inspiration Prize, so I told them if there's anything I can do to help then, by all means, put my name forward," said Brocklebank.
"They asked for a resume and cover letter and I had to admit to myself that I hadn't done a resume for, well, forever really, he said. "Then they sent me forms asking for my thoughts on the North, my thoughts on the prize itself, if I had any previous experience as a board member and things of that nature.
"When I saw the strength of the two other names put forward – one being a member of the Order of Canada which, someday, I hope to be worthy of and the other having gone on to raise like $4 million for their project – I truly felt like they picked the wrong one by selecting me."
Brocklebank's selection puts him on the Arctic Inspiration Prize board of trustees for one year.
He's been tasked to connect with all the past winners to track project progression and what the Arctic Inspiration Prize meant to them.
"It's, basically, following-up with the previous winners to find out what happened with their project, how they're doing and if they received any other support," said Brocklebank.
"From there, I'll be making some more promotional material for the website by highlighting the winners of the past seven years and what they've done since winning an Arctic Inspiration Prize.
"I was in awe of the whole experience when our qayaq program won this past year. I saw more seal in one room than I had previously seen in my entire life. The awards ceremony was a gathering of who's who in the North – premiers and cabinet ministers from every territory, the Commissioner of Nunavut and a large number of other very important Nunavummiut and other Northerners – and it felt like everyone who was anyone in the North was there.
"So now I'm one small piece of that impressive engine."
Brocklebank said he loves the concept of the Arctic Inspiration Prize, what it's done for the community of Chesterfield Inlet and, more importantly, what it's done for his students and qayak program at VSS.
He said while attending his first board meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon, earlier this month he couldn't help but wonder if his skill set was sufficient enough to help in all areas he was about to find himself involved in.
"But certainly – on delivering the message of what the Arctic Inspiration Prize has done for us and the impact it's had on our students, program and community – then, in that case, I'm probably a good choice.
"I could talk for days about all the good things the Arctic Inspiration Prize has meant for us.
"The co-founders (Arnold Witzig and Sima Sharifi) donated their wealth to the prize this past year to ensure it remained sustainable and then you meet them and discover they're the most committed and down-to-Earth people you've ever met.
"So, for me to be a working part of this now and be named to a one-year laureate trustee position is humbling, scary and exciting all rolled up into one."