Community
Events, services, organizations and practical information for Nunavummiut.
Rankin Inlet boil-water advisory remained in effect in latest territorial update
Rankin Inlet residents were told to boil water used for drinking and other consumption for at least one full minute because of repair work on the utilidor, the Government of Nunavut says. A territorial update dated Sept. 17 still listed the advisory as active. Atiilu News Desk found no later Government of Nunavut notice lifting it.
NIRB asks for more time to finish Grise Fiord water-licence screening
The Nunavut Impact Review Board has asked the federal minister for more time to complete its screening of a proposed Type A water-licence amendment for Grise Fiord’s new water-treatment plant. The request is not approval of the licence or a decision on the project. Source↗
Statistics Canada finds Inuit youth had different court outcomes than White youth in national study
A new Statistics Canada study found Inuit youth accused in Canadian youth courts were less likely than White youth to receive a guilty decision and more likely to have a case withdrawn, dismissed or discharged. The data are national, not Nunavut-specific: Nunavut is grouped with British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories for the study’s regional results. Source↗
NIRB opens public comments on Resolute Bay ammunition-contaminant study
The Nunavut Impact Review Board has opened public commenting in its screening of a Defence Research and Development Canada proposal to study possible ammunition contaminants at and near the small-arms range east of Resolute Bay. The screening is not an approval or finding that contamination has occurred. Source↗
Taloyoak told to boil drinking water after treatment-plant pump failure
Taloyoak residents must boil water used for drinking and other consumption for at least one full minute after a pump failed at the community’s water treatment plant. The Government of Nunavut says the advisory remains in place until further notice.
Naujaat wind warning remains in effect Friday afternoon
Environment Canada’s yellow wind warning remains active for Naujaat as of 12:43 p.m. CDT Friday. Gusts above 90 km/h are expected to continue before easing early this afternoon, and local utility outages remain possible. Source↗
Nunavut seeks residents’ input for planned alcohol-awareness campaign
Nunavummiut aged 16 and older can complete a short anonymous questionnaire until Nov. 21 to help the territorial government develop an alcohol-awareness campaign. Paper copies are available through community health representatives, and Health Department staff are scheduled to distribute questionnaires in Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk later this month. Source↗
Aqqusariaq recovery centre enters final construction and operating phase
Nunavut says Aqqusariaq, a planned 24-bed addictions and trauma recovery centre in Iqaluit, is nearing substantial completion. The centre is not open yet, and the Health Department is still finalizing a funding agreement with a new Inuit-led not-for-profit established by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to operate it.
QEC fined $276,000 after pleading guilty in Naujaat worker’s death
Qulliq Energy Corporation pleaded guilty on June 16 to one workplace-safety offence connected to the July 5, 2024 death of electrician Noah Paniyuk at the Naujaat power plant. The Nunavut Court of Justice imposed a $240,000 fine and a $36,000 victim fine surcharge. Source↗
Wind warnings issued for Gjoa Haven, Chesterfield Inlet and Naujaat
Environment Canada has active yellow wind warnings for Gjoa Haven, Chesterfield Inlet and Naujaat on Thursday, Oct. 15. Gjoa Haven could see gusts up to 100 km/h, blowing snow and possible utility disruptions, while the other two communities could see gusts above 90 km/h late this afternoon and evening. Source↗
Kinngait dental clinic scheduled to open Friday, with second visit in November
The Government of Nunavut’s current oral-health schedule lists dental services at the Kinngait Health Centre Dental Clinic from Oct. 16 to Nov. 4, with a second clinic period from Nov. 16 to 22. The department says the schedule can change and asks patients to arrive 15 minutes before appointments. Source↗
Igloolik boil-water advisory remains active three months after it was issued
Igloolik remains under a boil-water advisory issued July 15 because of high turbidity, meaning cloudy source water. The Government of Nunavut’s current advisory list says residents should boil water used for drinking and other consumption for at least one full minute. Source↗
Grays Bay Road and Port review remains active as Kugluktuk hunters await responses
West Kitikmeot Resources Corp. is aiming to respond by Oct. 23 to 70 questions from the Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association about the proposed Grays Bay Road and Port, Nunavut News reported Oct. 14. The deadline is a proposed response milestone in an ongoing environmental review, not approval to build the project. Source↗
AWG Arena to open for ice season Saturday as Sivumugiaq Street weekend closures continue
Iqaluit’s Arctic Winter Games Arena is scheduled to open for the 2026–27 ice season on Saturday, Oct. 17. The same weekend, a section of Sivumugiaq Street will again close from 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday for work at the Government of Canada building. Source↗ Source↗
Arviat records fewer than five active TB cases so far in 2026, GN says
The Government of Nunavut says Arviat had fewer than five active tuberculosis cases and fewer than five new latent-TB diagnoses from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026. The department says the community’s TB outbreak remains ongoing and that testing, education, treatment and follow-up care continue. Source↗
Taloyoak’s new Pangniq High School to hold grand opening Oct. 16
Taloyoak’s new Pangniq High School, which began welcoming students on Aug. 24, will have its public grand opening ceremony at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. A community feast is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Source↗
Youth charged with first-degree murder after Chesterfield Inlet shooting
Nunavut RCMP say a youth has been charged with first-degree murder after an adult man was found with a gunshot wound at a Chesterfield Inlet residence early Oct. 9 and later died. The charge has not been tested in court. Source↗
Pangnirtung recorded fewer than five active TB cases through September, GN says
The Government of Nunavut says Pangnirtung recorded fewer than five active tuberculosis cases from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026. The public update does not provide an exact number, say whether the cases are linked, or announce a Pangnirtung-specific screening campaign. Source↗
Arctic Bay toothbrushing program resumes for children in kindergarten to Grade 7
The Government of Nunavut says its toothbrushing program resumed in Arctic Bay on Sept. 1 for children from kindergarten to Grade 7. The program uses daily supervised brushing and is also being expanded to Gjoa Haven, Naujaat and Iqaluit. Source↗
Pangnirtung K–3 classes using full Quliuraqtuq bilingual education model this school year
Pangnirtung is listed to use the full Quliuraqtuq bilingual education model in kindergarten to Grade 3 during the 2026–27 school year. Under the model, 85 to 90 per cent of K–3 instruction is in Inuktut, with English introduced from Grades 4 to 6. Source↗
Pond Inlet boil-water advisory remains in effect more than 14 months after it began
Pond Inlet remains under a boil-water advisory first issued July 17, 2025. The Government of Nunavut’s current drinking-water advisory list says the precaution remains in place because of high turbidity, or cloudy water, at the source. Residents should boil water used for drinking and other consumption for at least one full minute. Source↗
Chesterfield Inlet boil-water advisory lifted
Chesterfield Inlet residents no longer need to boil water under the advisory issued Aug. 20 after low chlorine levels were identified in the community water system. Nunavut’s Health Department lifted the advisory Sept. 22. Source↗
Baker Lake under boil-water advisory because of cloudy source water
Baker Lake residents must boil water used for drinking and other consumption for at least one full minute under a boil-water advisory issued Sept. 29. The Government of Nunavut says the precaution is needed because of high turbidity, meaning cloudy water, at the source. Source↗
Rankin Inlet boil-water advisory remains listed as active more than a month after it began
Rankin Inlet remains listed under a boil-water advisory issued Sept. 8 because of utilidor repair work. The Government of Nunavut’s current drinking-water advisory page says residents must boil water used for drinking and other consumption for at least one full minute. Source↗
Naujaat reports no new TB infections in 2026, but outbreak response continues
The Government of Nunavut says no new active tuberculosis or latent-TB infections have been identified in Naujaat so far in 2026. The department says the community’s outbreak is still ongoing and that testing, education, treatment and follow-up care continue. Source↗
QIA says $18.2M Saviruut building in Igloolik will support preschool and wellness programs
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association says it has assembled $18,199,100 for a planned Saviruut building in Igloolik, intended to house the Aboriginal Head Start Program and Igloolik Wellness Committee. QIA says materials are planned to ship in 2027, with construction to follow; no opening date, program capacity or operating details have been announced. Source↗
Nunavut asks residents to complete dental-services survey by Oct. 14
Nunavut’s Health Department is asking residents across the territory to complete an eight-minute survey about dental care by Oct. 14. The survey is available in Inuktitut, English, Inuinnaqtun and French, and the department says responses will help inform oral-health programs.
Grise Fiord water-licence proposal moves to response stage, but no approval has been issued
A proposed renewal and Type A amendment for Grise Fiord’s municipal water licence has moved to an “Opportunity to Respond” stage after comments were filed in the regulatory review. The proposal would permit seasonal withdrawal of up to 2,160 cubic metres a day from Airport River to fill three storage tanks for the community’s new water-treatment system. It is not an approved licence or confirmation that the plant is operating. Source↗
Pond Inlet youth invited to four-day Inuit Games workshop
Pond Inlet residents aged 16 to 30 can register for a free four-day Youth Inuit Games workshop running Oct. 26 to 29. The Government of Nunavut says the program will offer cultural activities and learning with instructors and knowledge holders. Source↗
NIRB closes screening for Cambridge Bay wastewater-treatment research pilot
The Nunavut Impact Review Board closed its screening of a University of Guelph research project that plans to test small, plant-based wastewater biofilters at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Cambridge Bay. The decision does not approve a community wastewater plant or a new municipal service.
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