When was iqaluit founded

The community of Iqaluit would remain. In , the first local elections would take place for a community council, and then their first mayor in When a territory-wide referendum was held to select the capital of the soon-to-be territory of Nunavut, Iqaluit would be chosen over Rankin Inlet.

Iqaluit remains a remarkable community and a top polar destination. The amazing people and colourfully painted homes make it a great place to live and visit. And the runway still stands, with an airport that welcomes flights daily from the international airport in Ottawa. The value of the Iqaluit airport continues to play a part in the growth of the city.

It became a layover stop for Pan-Am flights, which led to the building of The Discovery, the only boutique hotel in Iqaluit, to house crews who needed to rest. And still, the runway is so long that it is one of the designated emergency landing runways for NASA space shuttles.

It might have seemed impossible for Koojesse to believe that an inlet named after him would become vital to a world war.

Without the help of Nakasuk, the location that would become Iqaluit might still remain a summer fishing camp. Get chances to view elusive Arctic wildlife and experience the majesty of the Arctic on safaris almost year-round. View all Arctic Safaris here. Ready for adventure? Contact our Arctic Travel Advisors to book. Are you still curious about the many wonders of the Arctic or looking for more interesting content then explore more blogs here! Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. He names it is Frobisher Straits believing it is the route to Asia. Despite visits by explorers, traders, missionaries and police, the Inuit still managed to retain a fairly independent lifestyle in their camps.

Change began in when the United States began building a huge airbase at the head of the bay as part of a planned transportation link to the war in Europe.

Inuit took on seasonal work and some began to stay in the area. The airbase, greatly under-used during the war, was later bought back by Ottawa. It sprang to life during the Cold War with the then — Soviet Union when it became the transportation and communications centre for the building of early-warning radar stations known as the DEW Line throughout the eastern Arctic.

In , the community then called Frobisher Bay began to grow when the federal government made it the headquarters for operations in the Baffin region. By , it had a high-rise complex, new schools and the now famous igloo-shaped Anglican cathedral, initiated by Queen Elizabeth II. In , its residents decided to change the name from Frobisher Bay to Iqaluit, thus reverting to its original Inuktitut name meaning "many fish.

As in more southerly cities, Iqaluit has the full range of services, such as a modern hospital, banks, law courts, schools, day cares and service clubs. The main campus of Nunavut Arctic College is located here. There is also a museum, a visitors' centre, art galleries, several churches, a mosque, satellite communications and an up-to-date computer network.

There is a small but vibrant francophone community with its own school and community centre. The Nunavut Final Agreement between the federal government and Inuit leaders was signed in , setting the direction for the creation of the new territory of Nunavut in Two years later, Iqaluit was chosen to be the territorial capital.

This brought rapid change: construction and employment opportunities boomed, with a corresponding population increase 47 per cent between and According to the census, The other two most commonly cited ethnic origins are Scottish Visible minorities account for 7.

The local economy is still largely government based, but a private sector is developing in areas such as construction, retail, tourism, and arts and crafts. Wages are relatively high compared with southern Canada, but equally so is the cost of living. However, employment levels among Inuit are still disproportionately low, a factor that government and Inuit organizations are working to reduce by offering training courses, preferential hiring and contract work. As the administrative, transportation and communications centre for Nunavut, Iqaluit provides air links with southern Canada, Yellowknife and all Nunavut communities.

It has a modern airport with daily flights to and from the South. In summer, despite its high tides, the city also becomes a port, handling the annual sealift of heavy supplies. Rapid growth of the city has seen the advent of more vehicles and the start of southern-style trappings such as street names and public transit.

The city is also home to CBC North radio and television, delivered in English and Inuktitut, as well as local radio stations and weekly newspapers. Its municipal administration consists of a mayor and eight councillors elected citywide for a four-year term.

It provides the usual community services and faces the same municipal issues that confront most other Canadian local administrations. What makes it different is that it serves a diverse mix of citizens who have moved there from others parts of Nunavut and Canada, while trying to preserve a balance between Inuit traditions and more recent changes brought from the South.

By northern standards, the city is a hub of political activity. As the capital, it houses the territorial legislative assembly, all government departments and is the home for many Inuit birthright organizations. For these reasons, it is the linchpin of the three Nunavut regions of Qikiqtaaluk Baffin , Kivalliq and Kitikmeot. The small satellite community of Apex is five kilometres east of Iqaluit. Nestled around an old-style Hudson's Bay Company store, it came into being in the s as a model village for the Inuit, built by the Canadian government.

Much of the flavour of Iqaluit lies in its cross-cultural contrasts: Inuktitut, English and French are heard in daily use; men in caribou parkas go hunting while jet planes fly overhead; and sealskins are scraped and cleaned in homes that house a television and perhaps a computer. Carvers can often be seen working outside their homes, and native arts and crafts can be bought in most stores and hotels.

Displays of Inuit drama, music, dance, song and fashion juxtapose comfortably with more southern events such as sports competitions. Toonik Tyme, the end-of-winter festival held in April, captures both traditional and modern aspects of the North, from igloo building to snowmobile racing.

Because so many Iqaluit residents originate from somewhere else, the community is known for its laid-back, culturally varied and tolerant, welcoming personality.