Success stories

Kamele joined the federal government looking for opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Since joining Polar Knowledge Canada in September 2020, Kamele has worked as a Facilities Officer supervising the Cambridge Bay facilities team. The team is responsible for managing the federal office buildings, leased housing, government fleet and other accommodations in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.

Over the last three years, Kamele has balanced supporting her team and managing work objectives with her personal efforts to improve as a leader and professional. Kamele has taken many courses through the Canada School of Public Service and graduated from Pilimmaksaivik's Sivuliqtiunirmut Ilinniarnniq Leadership Training for Nunavut Inuit. The 10-month program helped Kamele grow her practical skills, increase her confidence and learn more about what it means to be a great leader.

Iimali joined the federal government in 2012 to pursue her interest in law with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC). She began her work as a legal assistant on casual contract in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and was hired for a permanent position as Crown Witness Coordinator after only 11 months. Iimali relocated to Iqaluit, Nunavut for the new position, 2,200 kilometeres away, and received on-the-job training once there.

When the Government of Nunavut announced the launch of the Nunavut Law Program in 2016, Iimali was eager to apply. She was accepted to the program and began her schooling in September 2017 while on fully-funded education leave through the Ilipallianniq Education Support Fund. She returned to PPSC to begin her articles after graduating in 2021. Over the past three years, Iimali successfully completed her articles while caring for two newborns, and is now a Crown Prosecutor with PPSC. In November 2024, Iimali was called to the bar in a private ceremony, which was followed by a public ceremony in January 2025.

Dawson joined the federal government in March 2022 through Pilimmaksaivik's Inuit Learning and Development Program (ILDP). When Dawson applied for ILDP, he was interested in science-based positions within Parks Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). He pursued these interests, working at both CIRNAC and ECCC, but eventually changed departments to Public Prosecution Services Canada (PPSC).

At PPSC, Dawson found a new interest in Canada's judicial system as a Legal Assistant, where he closed case files, processed subpoenas and assisted lawyers in preparing for trials and court circuits. Dawson quickly mastered his role and successfully piloted an internal project in the Nunavut Regional Office—a project that will now be expanded to other offices. After completing ILDP, Dawson secured a permanent position and was promoted to Legal Assistant Supervisor where he manages a team of eight Legal Assistants and continues to support high-quality work in his department.

Joy joined the federal government in 2017 as a Support Clerk with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC). That year, she participated in the first cohort of Pilimmaksaivik's Sivuliqtiunirmut Ilinniarnniq Leadership Training for Nunavut Inuit. This program gave Joy the training and experience she needed to advance within the federal government. After a few promotions, Joy became the Business Coordinator for PPSC's Nunavut Regional Office and was later hired as a Branch Coordinator at the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), reporting to the Vice President of Pan-Territorial Operations. At CanNor, Joy received support from her manager to complete a Masters in Project Management, which qualified her in her current role as a Project Manager for Parks Canada's Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area.

Alexia joined the federal government in 2020 as a Human Resources Program Coordinator with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor). As an HR Program Coordinator, Alexia was responsible for reporting and Inuit employment data and became CanNor's Student and Young Public Servant Ambassador, running the Summer Student Program. Through CanNor's Inuit Talent Management Program, Alexia was identified as a good candidate for a Communications Officer position; in March 2022, she accepted the offer for a temporary assignment in the role.

Eager to apply her previous experience in developing educational materials for the Government of Nunavut, Alexia hit the ground running, using her communications skills to support events such as Ministerial announcements and Pope Francis' apology tour. In March 2023, Alexia was hired for a permanent position as a Communications Officer supporting Pilimmaksaivik's programming and outreach initiatives. She now works with stakeholders and other CanNor employees to promote Pilimmaksaivik to current and prospective Inuit employees in the federal government in Nunavut.