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Elizabeth Copland appointed new chief coroner; Pauloosie Suvega named new college president

GN Ministers revealed a couple of key appointments on Monday, announcing Elizabeth Copland as the territory’s chief coroner and Pauloosie Suvega as the president of Nunavut Arctic College.

A new chief coroner and a new president of Nunavut Arctic College were announced in the legislative assembly on Monday.
NNSL file photo

Copland, who’s from Arviat, has spent more than 20 years as a community coroner and previously served as chief coroner for two years, according to Justice Minister Jeannie Ehaloak. She’s also a former mayor of Arviat and has served as chair of the Nunavut Impact Review Board since 2010, among other distinctions.

Copland succeeds Khen Sagadraca, who took over after former chief coroner Padma Suramala was dismissed in 2018. Suramala has filed a $1-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the GN. The government has responded that her claim has no merit.

At Nunavut Arctic College, Suvega, brings extensive bureaucratic experience, having served as deputy minister of Environment, Culture and Heritage, and Economic Development and Transportation. He was also involved in the administration and promotion of the Inuit Language Protection Act and the Official Languages Act, said Patterk Netser, minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.

A major undertaking for Suvega as college president will be overseeing a 10-year strategic plan intended to “develop a robust, culturally responsive institution that is able to meet the learning needs of all Nunavummiut,” Netser said.