The Board of Directors and Team at Atuqtuarvik Corporation are pleased to award $5000 for its inaugural and annual Dennis Lyall Memorial Trades Scholarship. This scholarship was introduced in the fall of 2023 to honour the lifetime achievements of Dennis Lyall, a respected businessman of Taloyoak, Nunavut who also served on the Atuqtuarvik Corporation Board of Directors for many years. Dennis was an advocate for Inuit and utilizing the local, Inuit labour force for Taloyoak. This was clearly demonstrated through his companies Lyall Construction, Lyall Enterprise and Aqsarniit Limited where he held various community contracts and helped build the local economy for Taloyoak. Dennis was also a great family man, who along with his wife, Kristine Kamingoak Lyall, raised four children and have many grandchildren.
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to full-time students as they enter or complete their studies in a skilled trade. Atuqtuarvik Corporation believes in investing in the education of our Nunavut Inuit students and is happy to announce the inaugural recipient of the Dennis Lyall Memorial Trades Scholarship for 2023, Michael Illnik.
Michael is in his fourth and final year of his apprenticeship as an electrician. He is from Arviat and is a notable example of home-grown talent. Michael knew, even in high school, that he wanted to be an electrician. He has been an apprentice under his father, Josie Illnik, who is a red seal electrician, since he graduated from high school and plans to one day take over their family company, Illnik Electric. Michael hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps, developing and mentoring other Inuit journeymen, which he believes Nunavut needs more of.
Atuqtuarvik Corporation congratulates you on your amazing achievements and wishes you well in your studies and future, Michael!
