IMMIGRATE TO IQALUIT, NUNAVUT
Iqaluit from the air, taken in November 2005
Iqaluit formerly Frobisher Bay, is the territorial capital and the largest community of Canada's youngest territory, Nunavut. Iqaluit was selected to serve as the new territory's capital in a territory-wide referendum.
Geography and Climate
Iqaluit is located in the hills rising from Koojesse Inlet, an inlet of Frobisher Bay, on the south-east part of Baffin Island. It is well to the east of Nunavut's mainland, and northeast of Hudson Bay.
Iqaluit has a typically arctic climate, with very cold winters and short summers that are too cool to permit the growth of trees.
Iqaluit has an arctic climate, which suggests temperatures are well below 0 degree Celsius for most of the year, with only less than 250 millimetres of precipitation annually. However, Iqaluit's precipitation averages just over 400 millimetres annually, and is much wetter than many other localities in the Canadian arctic islands, with the summer being the wettest season. Average monthly temperatures are below freezing for eight months of the year.
Iqaluit Immigration Profile
Since the last Canadian Census, Nunavut has had a growth rates above the national average. Nunavut was the only territory in Canada to reach this goal. Statistically Iqaluit has the lowest Inuit population of any of the Arctic communities. Inuit make up 60% of Iqaluit's population. Iqaluit is a growing destination for immigration, residents of Iqaluit include Quebec francophones, Newfoundlanders and expatriate Scots.
Education for Dependant Children and Post Secondary
On a ridge overlooking the city is the distinctive blue and white Inuksuk High School. The school is made up of four square sections joined together that give a clover leaf shape when viewed from the air.
Arts and Culture
The Nunavut Legislative Assembly Building, which is remarkable for its colourful interior, is adorned with some of the very best in Inuit art.
The city is also the location of the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, which houses a large collection of Inuit and arctic objects.
Just west of Iqaluit is the Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park Reserve. This park is characterised by the valley of the Sylvia Grinnell River. A small visitor's centre with viewing platform is located on top of a hill overlooking scenic falls in the river.
Nearby on an island near the Peterhead inlet, is the Qaummaarviit Territorial Historic Park. It is a site with a long Inuit history and numerous artifacts have been recovered, including the remains of 11 semi-buried sod houses.
A little farther, across Frobisher Bay, are the Katannilik Territorial Park and the Soper Heritage River Park.
