The Nunavut Teachers’ Association (NTA) has confirmed its Central Executive for the 2026 term, keeping Justin Matchett as President and John Fanjoy as Executive Director. The leadership represents educators across Nunavut while maintaining a localized focus on Igloolik as needed.
The leadership team will continue to oversee implementation of the 2025–2028 collective agreement between the NTA and the Government of Nunavut (effective July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028).
Matchett was re-confirmed as President for the current term; he was re-elected to a third term in February 2025, and has been the public face of recent contract negotiations. According to Nunatsiaq News, his priorities include teacher retention through improved housing and stronger workplace safety measures.
The Government of Nunavut and the union ratified the collective agreement in 2025. The deal includes scheduled wage increases (including a 9% increase effective July 1, 2025, followed by 3% increases in 2026 and 2027) and enhanced pay provisions for teachers with Inuktut-language skills.
In Igloolik, the NTA has been focused on local working conditions. Sivuniit Middle School experienced a fuel spill that closed the building in late 2022/early 2023, and a separate building-condition assessment for Ataguttaaluk Elementary School identified 127 issues that need to be addressed. (These are distinct reports concerning different Igloolik school facilities.)
Executive Director John Fanjoy has previously emphasized retention over recruitment — telling CBC News that “the conversation must be about retention, not just recruitment” — and the leadership says it will use the current stability to continue advocating for better school infrastructure and professional development and training opportunities for local staff.
