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Call NOW for HUGE Savings! 1-888-271-7119www.roofontario.com 15 W ednesday , N ovem ber 24, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The people of Nunavuts capital of Iqaluit all know what Tim Hortons is. But to get the donuts and coffee, one of the more than 7,000 residents has to fly it in on his or her return home from the outside world. However, an Oakville woman who has lived in the remote community since September is help- ing bring the Canadian staple to her new home. Melissa Davis was recently tasked to help open and run Nunavuts first Tim Hortons coffee shop in the fast growing community. When this franchise opens sometime at the beginning of December, it will also mean that the Oakville- based Tim Hortons will have a presence in all Canadian provinces and territories. The 21-year-old Iroquois Ridge High School graduate will be the new stores assistant manag- er, being the head of production. She said the locals, mostly Inuit people, know what Tim Hortons is because when they fly on vacation they go through Ottawa. Theres a Tim Hortons kiosk in the Ottawa airport, so they all know what Tim Hortons is and every time somebody comes back into the city, they bring with them a box of donuts off the plane, she said. Davis was speaking to the Oakville Beaver during her 16 days of training for the new posi- tion in her hometown of Oakville. Things certainly are moving quickly for Davis, who only a year ago graduated from George Brown Colleges baking and pastry man- agement program. Her boyfriend, Matthew Grigg, also of Oakville, also recently graduated from business school and they were both looking for jobs. Thats when Davis saw an ad in the Oakville Beaver for the North West Company, which is now opening the Tim Hortons. The company is a retail supplier in remote northern communi- ties and the ad called for positions at its stores. I saw an ad in the paper and I was joking to Matt (Grigg), if you dont get any calls back from any of these business jobs what do you say we move to the Arctic? He said ok. Grigg did get calls back for jobs, however he lost interest in them, We decided to pack in for the adventure and we flew out there. We got jobs with the company and thats what weve both been doing, Davis said. Both of them began working in a store called North Mart, the largest retailer in the town and the largest store owned by the North West Company. Davis said the store is a smaller ver- sion of Walmart, but it also includes furs, snow- mobiles and ATVs. She was working as a bakery supervisor in the stores food court. The food court, subsequently closed for reno- vations and is now being converted into what will be Tim Hortons. They called me up into the office and they told me all about opening up Tim Hortons and how excited they were and how they wanted me to do it. It all happened really fast. I only just found out two weeks ago. Now Im back here (in Oakville) training, she said. So far, the only permanent staff members for the store are Davis and the store manager, 23- year-old Katie Inukshuk, who will take care of the storefront duties. Shes Inuit and speaks the local language. Davis said the new coffee shop wont have the entire Tim Hortons menu at the beginning. I know were going to have donuts, muffins and cookies and the coffees and that kind of stuff, she said. In addition to the main store, there will also be Tim Hortons kiosks at two of North Marts smaller outlets in the town. Both will be within walking distance to the main store and will serve coffee and baked goods made at the main store. Davis isnt worried about the coffee competi- tion either. North Mart served coffee in its food court, but there are a couple other coffee shops in the town. One of them recently started serv- ing pizza, she said because the owner feared the loss of business once Tim Hortons opens. The town is made up 60 per cent of natives and 40 per cent of southerners, such as herself. Davis said North Mart is the largest employer in the town and will help staff the new coffee shop until a permanent workforce can be established. Davis recently returned to Oakville for train- ing. The North West Company provides a loan to people for their expensive transportation costs to relocate north, but waives the loan after two years. She and Grigg initially decided to spend at least the two years in Nunavut, but now that stay seems to be extended. As of now I dont know if I will ever return because I love it there, she said. As much as I miss Oakville and I love Oakville, life is just completely different up there and its like noth- ing Ive ever experienced and I adore it. In describing the northern experience Davis only has warm words to say. The cold, actually, its like a crisp, fresh cold, she said. Its like a really cold fall morn- ing and you wake up and its just so invigorating, almost. Its also amazingly gorgeous there. From everywhere in Iqaluit you can see the bay and its just beautiful. On the other side of the bay, its just mountains and theyre all snow capped and when the sun shines on them early in the morning theyre just a gorgeous pink colour. Its a really beautiful place and the wildlife is incredible. We have all sorts of whales and narwhals and seals and polar bears. Before the store opens the company will hold pre-opening celebrations, Davis said. She rec- ommends to anyone in Oakville, that if theyre up for it, to apply to work in her store through the North West Company. Oakville woman bringing Tim Hortons to Nunavut SUBMITTED PHOTO NORTHERN CHALLENGE: Melissa Davis stands in front of North Mart, the largest retailer in Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, where she will help open and run the first Tim Hortons franchise in Canada's far north.