Welcome, colleagues from across the territory!

We hope everyone had a restful summer and is feeling energized for another year. We are thrilled to be working with all of you this year.  We’ve prepared some notes to help you prepare for a successful year ahead, covering everything from our new PD database launch, and which PD Coordinator is supporting your region, to PD Week options, key PD deadlines, and a couple of important policy updates.

1.  Our New PD Database Is Now Live

PD funding applications now run through our new online database, hosted on the Connected North site.

Access it here: https://sessions.connectednorth.org/cn/pd-funding 

You will access it with your Connected North login information.  It is under:

          –> My Learning  –>PD Funding & Programs 

Note: If you still have open applications in the old database (reimbursements for credit courses, substantiations, etc.) please contact your PD Coordinator. 

If you have trouble accessing Connected North, contact your PD Coordinator below, and we can help you.

2.  Your PD Coordinator

For all PD-related matters, your first point of contact for your region is listed below. Reach out to your area coordinator with any questions about applications, funding, policy, or PD Week.

• Shannon Hessian (shessian@ntanu.ca)
  • North Qikiqtani: Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Igloolik, Pond Inlet, Resolute Bay, Sanirajak
  • South Qikiqtani: Clyde River, Kimmirut, Kinngait, Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Sanikiluaq

• Marsha Rhodes (mrhodes@ntanu.ca)
  • Central Qikiqtani: Apex, Iqaluit
  • North Kivalliq: Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Naujaat

• Craig MacGregor (cmacgregor@ntanu.ca)
  • South Kivalliq: Arviat, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove
  • Kitikmeot: Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk, Kugluktuk, Taloyoak

3.  PD Menu

We have developed a PD Menu (CLICK HERE) – it has lots of information to help you build your PD week, as well as opportunities beyond PD week – everything from conferences and Canadian-based PD on numerous topics to classroom resources, professional reading titles, and PD-to-go options (a full week already planned out for you that spans numerous topics).

4. PD Week (Feb 15-19)

PD Week runs on a rotating cycle.  The following outlines what PD Week will look like for your region.

North and Central Qikiqtani – Conference year 

• Intent-to-attend forms have been sent to all members in these two regions, along with information on the conference structure and format. If you have questions, please reach out to your school PD Liaison or your PD Coordinator at the NTA office. If you have not received this information, please check that your spam or junk folder is not filtering messages.

• Planning is already underway, and details on sessions and registration will follow.

• Members who are unable to attend the regional conference must submit a PD Week application on the PD Database and are encouraged to sign up for sessions on the virtual Connected North conference.

• Individual PD funding allotments will not be available for members in the North and Central Qikiqtani who cannot attend the conference in Iqaluit, as all funding for these regions is dedicated to putting on the conference.

Kitikmeot, Kivalliq and South Qikiqtani – Individual/group application year 

Members in these regions will plan their individual or group PD for the week and submit it through the database. Your school PD Liaison can help you shape your learning. The PD Menu has lots of information to help you build your PD Week!

Connected North Virtual Conference option — open to everyone 

The NTA / Connected North online conference will run during PD Week and is available to all members, no matter which region you are in. Session listings and sign-up details will come closer to the date.  Members are welcome to build their entire individual PD week around the sessions available on Connected North or build in sessions around other individual or group activities.

5.  Important PD Dates 

6.  Policy Updates: 2027 

A) PD Activities Outside Canada – In alignment with other PD organizations across the country, we have adjusted PD Policy 2.2, which now reads:

“Professional development initiatives that are not Canadian-based, including conferences, symposiums, institutes, credit and non-credit courses, and other activities, are not eligible for PD funding unless they are directly tied to a Department of Education and/or Nunavut Teachers’ Association initiative.” 

B) Any PD applications that require a Southern Travel Authorization form must now be in the system 60 days before travel.  This allows adequate time for the RSO and ED to consider the applications for approval. If you’re considering a conference, course, or workshop in the South this year, work backwards from the date you expect to travel, and ensure you meet the 60-day window.

7. 2026-2027 PD Policy Books

Please click the links below to access the digital version of this year’s PD Policy Book in the language of your preference:

• 2026 – 2027 ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔩᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᑲᓐᓂᕈᑎᒋᕙᑦᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑐᐊᒐᑦ
• 2026 – 2027 Professional Development Policy Book
• Guide de ressources pour le perfectionnement professionnel 2026 – 2027

Questions? 

Reach out to your regional PD Coordinator anytime. We’d rather answer a question early than untangle a deadline later.

On behalf of the NTA PD Coordinators and the Professional Development Council, we wish you a wonderful start to the year, and we are here to support you along the way.

Have a great year,

Shannon Hessian, Marsha Rhodes, and Craig MacGregor 

PD Coordinators, Nunavut Teachers’ Association