Rankin Inlet artist featured on winning Northwestel directory cover

Press Release

April 12, 2016

IQALUIT, NU – Rankin Inlet artist Dyan White has been selected as the winner of the 2016/17 Northwestel Directory Cover Art Competition for Nunavut. Her painting, titled Inukshuk at Sunset, will be featured on the cover of Northwestel’s phone directory and distributed throughout the territory.

Inukshuk at Sunset was inspired by a beautiful summer night and White’s personal connection to a Rankin Inlet landmark.

“I love our inukshuks – they’re all so original and unique. My late grandfather helped to build this one, and everyone in town can see it. Anyone who has been to Rankin Inlet will recognize it as our inukshuk,” said White of her winning acrylic painting.

Since 1985, Northwestel has invited Northern artists to submit their work to for a chance to appear on the covers of its regional phone directories. This year’s winning Nunavut artist was selected by a committee of Northwestel employees in consultation with Rowena House, Executive Director of the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association.

“We’re very happy with the piece that appears on the new directory. Inukshuk at Sunset is a beautiful representation of the incredible landscapes that inspire the people of our territory,” said Bertrand Poisson, General Manager of Nunavut Operations. “For more than 30 years, Northwestel has been proud to feature Northern art on its directory covers, and we thank Dyan for being part of this tradition.”

Drawing inspiration from the North

A lifelong Northerner, White says her love of arts and crafts truly flourished when she was a high school student taking art classes. After taking a break away from her canvas to raise two children with her husband, she decided to pick up a paintbrush once again, inspired by the beautiful Northern landscapes and skies that surround her.

“I’ve tried doing some portraits and different scenery, but I’ve always come back to landscapes,” said White. “I’ve been here all of my life, and what I’ve seen, what I’ve grown up with – it’s all been Northern.”

Swap your directory and support local schools

The new 2016/17 directories will be available at directory pick-up locations throughout the Nunavut in the coming weeks. Outdated phone directories can be recycled to support local students through the Northwestel Directory Recycling Program until April 29, 2016.

Each year, local students collect outdated telephone directories for recycling, as a way to earn cash rewards from Northwestel to help fund school activities and purchases. Details about the Northwestel Directory Recycling Program, including a list of participating schools, are available at http://nwtel.leafsolutions.ca.

-30-

ILR5