Rankin Inlet mon-profit groups benefit from $32,500 in grants

Published 9:25 am Friday, December 12, 2025 By Darrell Greer Northern News Services The nine non-profit winners of this year’s charity ball grant in Rankin Inlet have been announced by Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) and the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet. Rankin senior administrative officer Darren Flynn said the prizes will be presented on Dec. 4. Receiving $10,000 during a huge community feast will be the annual Rankin Inlet Toy Drive, while the Ikurraq Food Bank will receive $5,000. Seven non-profits will receive $2,500, including The Rankin Inlet Men’s Committee, Kangiqliniq Spay/Neuter and Rescue, Rankin Inlet Women’s Soccer, the Kataujaq Society Safe Shelter, the Rankin Inlet Fishing Derby, Rankin Inlet Female Hockey and Rankin Inlet Embrace Life. Flynn said due to the fact this year marks Rankin Inlet’s 50th anniversary as a municipality, the charity gala grants have gone up thanks to AEM’s contribution of $50,000. “What we did this year was, council put some of that towards the budget it had for family funding,” said Flynn. “We did a little bigger Family Fun Day back in July and now we’re doing a little bit bigger for the AEM Charity Awards. “Last year, we gave out, I believe it was, $30,000 worth of awards and, this year, we’re giving out $32,500. “That will all take place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4.” Flynn said this year’s awards are the total of all the applications received. He said that makes it the first time the hamlet has had the ability to put a little bit towards everyone who applied. “There’s always going to be people on Facebook after all is said and done saying we should have done this for somebody else or we should have done that. Well, you know what? It was an open call to the community and those that received were ones that actually put in proposals for it. “Some did ask for more than what they got, but the (four councillor) committee was trying to give a helping hand to as many as it could. “The one thing that everybody tries to do here is to go with the most impact for the contribution. Some may say that with the toy drive you’re just giving away toys, but the reality is that initiative gets every kid in town. That’s just phenomenal to get every kid in town with one initiative. “So that is, by far, the one that makes the biggest impact with every kid in town and it is Christmas.”