IQALUIT CITY COUNCIL

Iqaluit city council is comprised of the Mayor and eight city councillors who serve a four-year term.

Members of the city council meet at regularly scheduled council meetings throughout the year, as well as a special council meeting as needed.

 

Mayor Solomon Awa

Solomon Awa was born in a sod house nearby Igloolik. From a very young age, he has been curious about everything; he even disassembled his sister’s toy sewing machine -something his sister was very mad about. Solomon picked up many traditional skills from his parents and loves to tell the stories that he learnt from his father. He tells stories to the general public, day cares, and schools; and has also taught at arctic college about traditional knowledge.

Solomon currently lives in Iqaluit, Nunavut with his wife, Jodi, and their two teenage children. He also has five adult children, from his first marriage, along with several grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Council Committees
Vice-chair, Planning and Development Committee

Chair, Public Safety Committee

 

Councillor Simon Nattaq

Council Committees
Chair, Cemetery 

 

Councillor Ookalik Curley

Ookalik Curley was born south of Iqaluit, to Ekalook and Kanayuk Ipeelie, and has lived in both Apex and Iqaluit. In addition to living in Iqaluit, she has lived in Sanirajak, Igloolik, Arviat, Kinngait, Pangnirtung (three months) and Yellowknife (one month). She has been a homeowner for 34 years has three adult children, an adopted great grandson and six grandchildren.

Councillor Curley has a broad professional experience, the first part of her professional career was spent working as a Social Service Worker, Town Clerk, Municipal Liaison Officer, Deputy Senior Administrator Officer. In January 2003, she started working for the Government of Nunavut and held various positions, including Director Intern, Employment Systems Specialist, Mentorship Specialist, Staffing Officer, Staffing Manager, and her current position as a Training and Development Consultant with the Department of Human Resources.

Council Committees
Chair, Grievances
Vice-chair, Cemetery

 

Councillor Paul Quassa

Councillor Quassa has spent most of his life as a politician and Community Councillor working towards creating positive change for Nunavut and Nunavummiut. He believes that his experience and comprehensive municipal understanding will be a major asset to the Iqaluit City Council.

Now semi-retired, Councillor Quassa, intends to bring his knowledge, background and strengths to the table. He approaches this role with compassionate, understanding and a willingness to listen to any issues that are affecting our community, our city.

Council Committees
Chair, Strategic Planning and Economic Development

Mayor's Representative for Search & Rescue

 

Deputy Mayor Kyle Sheppard 

Born and raised in Southern Ontario, Kyle began his banking career with the Royal Bank of Canada in early 2002. He relocated to Rankin Inlet in 2003, where he made the north his home, met his wife and started their family.

Kyle served one term as a Hamlet Councillor in Rankin Inlet and worked in Yellowknife for three years before moving to Iqaluit in 2016 for his current role in Commercial Banking. Kyle was elected to City Council in April 2017 and re-elected in 2019. Kyle was an Ex-Officio member of the Uquutaq Society board, representing the City.

In his free time, Kyle likes to be on the land hunting and fishing with his family.

Council Committees
Chair, Finance
Chair, Taxi Review
Vice-Chair, Engineering and Public Works
Vice-Chair, Grievance

 

Councillor Romeyn Stevenson - Alternative Deputy Mayor

Romeyn is a father to four adult children and a grandfather to two girls.  For twenty years, he was an educator in Nunavut. Romeyn has been an Iqaluit City Councilor since 2009, including a term as Deputy Mayor.

He currently works for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and is passionate about making the City of Iqaluit a brighter, better place to live. 

Council Committees
Chair, Engineering and Public Works Committee
Vice-chair, Finance
Chair, Board of Revision
Chair, Development Appeal Board

 

Councillor Kimberly Smith

Kimberly was born in Iqaluit.  She relocated with her family to Ottawa in 2005 before returning to Iqaluit in 2014 to pursue an apprenticeship as a Construction Electrician.  After attaining her Red Seal in 2018, she began working with the Government of Nunavut as a Structured Cabling and Fiber Optic Technician.  She is incredibly thankful for a career that has allowed her to visit and work in 24 out of 25 communities in Nunavut and soon hopes to be able to say she has been to all of them.   

Kimberly has served on the Board of Directors for Skills Canada Nunavut for the past six years and continues to do so.  She is proud to share and promote careers in trades and technology to students across Nunavut.

Council Committees
Chair, Planning and Development Committee of the Whole

Chair, Recreation Committee
Vice-chair, Strategic Planning and Economic Development

 

Councillor Samuel Tilley

Sam Tilley was born in Churchill, Manitoba, and spent most of his childhood living in Arviat and Rankin Inlet before relocating to Iqaluit in August of 2002. Councillor Tilley received his commercial helicopter license shortly after high school, which has allowed him to experience various parts of Canada through his training and flying experience. Now working with the Government of Nunavut procurement division, Sam specializes in air charters and search and rescue procurement.

In his free time, Sam likes playing squash, watching football, and enjoying time on the land hunting with his friends.

Council Committees

Vice-chair, Planning and Development Committee of the Whole
Vice-chair, Recreation
Vice-chair, Taxi Review Committee

 

Councillor Swany Amarapala

Swany was born in Ontario and has lived in many places, but never felt more at home than when she first came to Iqaluit in 2011. She met her husband in Iqaluit, where they happily live with their almost 2-year-old son, Vincent and two dogs, Noodles and Ivy.  She has a Business Degree and many years of experience volunteering at a wide range of organizations and not-for-profits.