Nominated by: Matthew Bryan

(Director of Kiluutaq School)

This nomination is for Qumaluk Tookalook (00-04-26). Qumaluk is 24 years old, works as a behaviour technician at Kiluutaq School in Umiujaq. I have been Qumaluk’s supervisor for 3 years and have known him as a youth for 15 years in the school and community. The behaviour technician job can be extremely stressful as he usually has to intervene when students are in crisis – crying, being bullied, not listening, refusing do to their work or are being rude and disrespectful to their teacher. He does this by talking one on one with the student and problem solving with them. This may involve having the student reflect on their behaviour and discussing the appropriate behaviour. Ultimately, he helps this student to calm down, learn the appropriate behaviour and returns them back to the classroom ready to learn. Behaviour technicians are extremely important in our school, as it permits our teachers to continue teaching their lesson, allowing students in crisis to leave the classroom and receive the appropriate support. Qumaluk has demonstrated an excellent ability to connect with our students. He listens, shows compassion and helps support their needs. In the evenings and weekends Qumaluk coaches volleyball and basketball to the youth of the community. Also – several times a week – he opens the gym up for volleyball scrimmages to all community members – giving them an active safe/sober social activity to do together. He has chaperoned/coached several teams over the last two years to go to various tournaments including hockey. He is helping to organize a volleyball tournament in our village during the week of Sept. 16-23. His leadership ability and confidence has dramatically increased over the last two years – volunteering and coaching sports. He is a young deserving candidate – that is a positive role model – and I believe that receiving awards like this can give him more motivation/validation to spur him on to continue to volunteer and be a positive leader in our community.