Iqaluit, is Nunavut’s Capital and Canada’s
coolest arctic city! Whether you are a resident or a visitor, Iqaluit has a lot
to offer. The city of Iqaluit is a vibrant community and home to Iqalummiut, a
diverse mix of people from across Nunavut, Canada and around the world. They
bring their skills, experience and passion as they contribute to Iqaluits’
development and growth. People of Iqaluit are one of our most valuable
resources and we are working together towards a better future that will
preserve the strengths of our Inuit and northern culture, while embracing the
changes of the 21st century.
Our proud city continues to grow, providing
many exciting social and economic opportunities. The city of Iqaluit strives to
ensure that the services we provide meet the needs and aspirations of young and
old, Inuit and non-Inuit, long-time and new residents, business owners and
employees. Iqaluit has made a long-term commitment towards sustainable
development and is expanding our municipal services to meet the growing and
wide range of developmental needs. Through an inclusive planning process
involving community residents and major stakeholders, we have completed the
Piqutivut – Building Our Capital feasibility study and business plan, for a new
Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Emergency and Protective Services Centre and
City Hall.
Iqaluit serves as a gateway to all the
Baffin region communities. It is also the gateway to Greenland and points east,
Yellowknife and points west, Kuujjuaq and Northern Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa.
Iqaluit is a designated port of entry to
Canada for international air and marine transportation. Located at the
crossroads of both polar and high North Atlantic air routes, Iqaluit airport
can handle any type of aircraft. Our city is a great place to stopover,
vacation or choose for your meeting venue, given that we have Nunavut’s largest
selection of hotels, B+Bs, restaurants and stores. Residents and visitors alike
can enjoy fine dining; including a meal of locally and regionally harvested
foods, such as muskox burgers, caribou steaks and pan seared arctic char, in
any one of our local restaurants.
The city of Iqaluit also offers plenty of
recreation activities for our residents and visitors – so come out and have
some fun with us! Check out the Recreation section of this website to see all
of the sports and recreation activities going on in the city. In addition to
the city run programs, Iqaluit is also a great place for fishing and hiking –
either around town or at the Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park. For the more
adventurous person, boating, snowmobiling, and kite skiing or hunting are
favored activities. Any one of our local outfitters are available to take the
most adventurous jet boating or jet skiing or guide people on hiking,
snowmobile, dog sled or river raft trips at the Katannilik Park situated
between Iqaluit and Kimmirut.
The City of Iqaluit is also rich with Inuit
culture: come visit our local Nunatta Sunakkataangit Museum; Unikkaarvik
Visitor Centre; or take a boat trip to the local heritage site of Qaummaarvik
Park just minutes away from the community. Inuit carvings along with local
handicrafts may be purchased in a number of stores or directly from the artisan
or their family members as they tour the main hot spots around town.
There are endless opportunities for
everyone in our City of Iqaluit. We invite all to enjoy the mixture of small
town hospitality and city amenities that make Iqaluit a great place to visit
and an even better place to live!
It is a privilege and an honor for me to
represent the community of Iqaluit as its Mayor. The city’s Council and
Administration will strive to provide excellent services to all its residents
and visitors.
We welcome your comments and encourage you
to participate fully in our community.
Mayor John Graham
Mission Statement
Working together with our citizens, we will
create a sustainable and environmentally responsible Arctic capital.
By respecting our rich historical and
cultural heritage, we will succeed in forging a community government that
empowers our citizens to participate in positive community development.
