Arviat reserves Hudson Bay waterfront site for Inuit Nunangat University

Faculty and students at Inuit Nunangat University can expect sweeping views of Hudson Bay from a waterfront site Arviat reserved well before submitting its successful proposal to host the school, says Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr.

“There is a lot of excitement [in Arviat] and this project and this proposal was not one person or one company,” Savikataaq said. “It was a whole team who got together, and it was a success.”

The hamlet council set aside roughly 107,000 square feet (10,000 square metres) of land — an area about the size of six NHL rinks — at the east end of Arviat for the Inuit-led university, ensuring the community could meet key requirements to host the main campus.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed announced Wednesday that Arviat was selected as the site for the university’s main campus over seven other communities. The campus is expected to open in 2030.

The facility requires space for a 26,900-square-foot main building plus 21,500 square feet of living accommodations, ITK said in a February 2025 news release. No construction date has been announced yet.

Savikataaq said the next step will be for ITK to secure a lease before proceeding with development.

“Typically, there are about 25 to 30-year leases, but it could go significantly longer than that according to the [Nunavut] Land Act,” he said.

The proposed campus site is located near existing residential areas. Savikataaq said the hamlet ensured there’s enough space for both academic buildings and student accommodations.

Infrastructure readiness was another factor in Arviat’s successful proposal.

“Just a few years ago, we got a major upgrade and additional cell for our water supply, a new treatment plant,” Savikataaq said.

Other projects planned include a new airport terminal and power plant, though no construction dates have been announced.

A $70-million modular housing factory in Arviat is also expected to begin production in August, he said. It is being developed by Sakku Investments Corp., the business arm of Kivalliq Inuit Association, and RG Solution, a Quebec-based modular construction firm.

Savikataaq said the combination of available land, solid infrastructure plus cultural factors made the community’s proposal stand out.

“Why our proposal did so well was because of the things that are currently happening or about to happen,” he said.

Savikataaq said Arviat’s water, sewage and waste management systems are sufficient to handle increased demand from the new university. The hamlet has a population of about 3,000 people.

The hamlet was chosen in part because Inuktitut is widely spoken there.

“It makes sense to have a university based in a place where the Inuktitut language is so strong,” Savikataaq said.

He specifically recognized the hamlet council and partner organization Northern Futures Planning for their work in supporting the proposal.

Savikataaq said ITK is responsible for finalizing design, construction timelines, and funding.

“Our responsibility was to make sure that we are prepared infrastructure-wise, service-wise, for the increase in population to make sure that the demand will be met,” he said.

Inuit Nunangat University’s main campus is expected to serve roughly 100 students with 80 faculty and staff.

As well as in-person instruction in Arviat, the university will offer online courses and teaching at smaller, regional satellite campuses.