In a Sept. 18 update, the Government of Nunavut said interior work, landscaping and exterior finishes at Aqqusariaq were nearing completion. It said the project was approaching substantial completion in the coming weeks after nearly three years of construction. The department did not announce an opening date, admission process or staffing plan. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

The facility is intended to provide in-territory inpatient addictions and trauma recovery care, including counselling, on-the-land programming and aftercare. The government says an Inuit-led organization created by NTI will operate the facility while the territorial government funds services. That arrangement is still being finalized, so the announcement is progress toward service delivery, not confirmation that care is available yet.

Watch for a signed funding agreement, an operator announcement with governance details, recruitment and referral information, and a public opening date. The government should also clarify how the centre will open in phases and how people from communities outside Iqaluit will access the program.

Aqqusariaq will have 24 beds. The GN says operating funding is supported in part by Indigenous Services Canada’s ongoing $9.7-million annual commitment. In 2023, governments described the capital project as an $83.7-million investment: $42.1 million from Canada, $41.6 million from Nunavut and $5 million from NTI; NTI also committed $11.8 million through Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation for Inuit counsellor training. The 2023 announcement expected substantial completion by December 2025, while the Sept. 18, 2026 update said substantial completion was expected in coming weeks. Neither record explains the changed timeline. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗