Alex Ittimangnaq is proud of his hometown, the Nattilik hamlet of Kugaaruk, Nunavut, and believes in working hard for the future of his community. A graduate of Nunavut Sivuniksavut, Alex is the Community Development Officer for Kugaaruk and a member of the District Education Authority. From an early age, Alex has been involved in sports in the community. He remembers playing basketball outside in the summer sun until 3AM. Alex enjoys being a mentor for youth, setting up a basketball league for kids in Kugaaruk complete with team jerseys, a scoreboard, and a trophy for the annual championship. He has also served as the lead organizer for the community’s hockey league, which continues to bring large crowds of fans, young and old, to the arena three nights a week! With his first book, The Great Fishing Derby, Alex wants to pass on an important message to young readers who feel like things aren’t going their way: if you keep a positive attitude, and keep doing the right thing, things often turn out better than you expected.