Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Encyclopedia
Inuvik is a town in the Northwest Territories
of Canada
and is the administrative centre for the Inuvik Region.
The population as of the 2006 Census
was 3,484, but the two previous census counts show wide fluctuations due to economic conditions: 2,894 in 2001
and 3,296 in 1996
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 3,586 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.3 from 1996.
Inuvik was conceived in 1953 as a replacement administrative centre for the hamlet of Aklavik
on the west of the Mackenzie Delta
, as the latter was prone to flooding and had no room for expansion. Initially called "New Aklavik", it was renamed to Inuvik.
Inuvik achieved village status in 1967 and became a full town in 1970 with an elected mayor and council. In 1979, with the completion of the Dempster Highway
, Inuvik became connected to Canada's highway system, and simultaneously the most northerly town to which one could drive in the summer months — although an ice road
through the Mackenzie River delta connects the town to Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean
, in the winter.
Between 1971 and 1990, the town's economy was supported by the local Canadian Forces
Station, CFS Inuvik
, (originally a Naval Radio Station, later a communications research/signals intercept facility) and by petrochemical
companies exploring the Mackenzie Valley and the Beaufort Sea
for petroleum
. This all collapsed in 1990 for a variety of reasons, including disappearing government subsidies, local resistance to petroleum exploration, and low international oil prices.
On 10 February 2010, the Google Street View
imaging service uploaded images of most Inuvik streets. It is currently the northernmost Canadian community so imaged.
Breakdown: Inuvialuit
(predominately Uummarmiut
), 38.9%; First Nations
, 18.4%; Métis
, 4.7%; other Aboriginal
, 1.2%; non-native, 36.7%
The main language spoken in Inuvik is English, though schools teach and a handful of local people still speak Inuvialuktun
, and Gwich’in
. The CBC Radio broadcasts an hour of programming a day in each of these languages.
There are also about 100 Muslims, most of whom came there for economic opportunities. A small mosque (dubbed "Little mosque on the tundra
") was established in 2010.
.
Due to its northern location, Inuvik experiences an average of 56 days of continuous sunlight
every summer and 30 days of polar night
every winter.
Access is via the Dempster Highway
for the majority of the year. The highway relies on ferries and ice bridges to get across the rivers. It is thus closed during the time of freeze-up (roughly late-October to mid-December), for ice to form and allow ice bridge
s, and thaw (roughly mid-May to mid-June) to allow the ferry
to run. At these times, there is air access only.
When the Mackenzie River is ice-free, Northern Transportation Company Limited
provides a commercial barge service from Hay River
, on Great Slave Lake
to the regional terminal in Inuvik. The annual sealift
moves supplies as far east as Taloyoak
, Nunavut
and west to Barrow
, Alaska
.
A distinct feature of Inuvik is the use of "utilidors" – above-ground utility conduits carrying water and sewer – which are covered by corrugated steel. They run throughout town connecting most buildings, and as a result there are many small bridges and underpasses. The utilidors are necessary because of the permafrost
underlying the town.
Another feature is an Inukshuk
placed outside the Mackenzie Hotel, which was rebuilt in 2006.
A great majority of roads are paved, and there are both concrete and metal-grill sidewalks alongside the roads.
, often called Igloo Church, is a famous landmark in the region. It is the most-photographed building in the town.
The Canadian Arctic's northernmost mosque will become operational in Autumn 2010 after being built in Winnipeg
and moved 4000 km (2,485.5 mi) by truck and barge. Some media reports have mistakenly called the mosque "the world's northernmost mosque." However, this is untrue. There are mosques in Norilsk
, Russia
; and Tromsø
, Norway
, both of which are further north than Inuvik.
has been held annually for 10 days in the middle of July since 1989. The Festival has hosted over 1800 artists from across Canada's north, and from as far away as Japan and Australia over 22 years and is the largest annual tourism event in the Beaufort Delta. Featuring on-site demonstrations, 50+ arts workshops, a 3500-piece gallery, an outdoor carving village, an interactive artist studio zone, nightly cultural performances, northern film screenings, family activities and an Arctic fashion show, the Festival attracts visitors from around the world to travel the Dempster Highway to visit Inuvik and the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in Settlement Regions.
The annual Sunrise Festival happens on the second weekend of the new year, when the sun finally breaks the horizon after about thirty days of darkness. The Festival is an all-day community event highlighted by dog-sled races, a long-program fireworks show and community bonfire. This Festival was highlighted in the award-winning 2010 national Tropicana Orange Juice commercial 'Arctic Sun'.
Inuvik celebrates the Muskrat Jamboree each year in late March or early April. Started in 1957, the event brings together thousands of people to participate in traditional games, watch the dog-sled and snowmobile races and dance (jig) the night away in town. Most events are held on the Mackenzie River where several community groups operate concessions in stove-heated traditional McPherson tents, preparing hot soup, bannock
, baked goods, coffee, Labrador tea, hot chocolate and other traditional refreshments. Many participants and spectators wear traditional clothing and often local artisans will have something to sell. In conjunction with the Muskrat Jamboree, the Town of Inuvik hosts the annual Muskrat Cup 3-on-3 Pond Hockey Tournament on the frozen Mackenzie River, the world's most northerly cash tournament.
The weekend closest to the summer solistice (June 21) each year features the Midnight Sun Fun Run, a 5K, 10K and Half-Marathon that starts at midnight under the blazing 24-hours of sunlight experienced for 50+ days each summer in Inuvik. Runners from around the world make their way North to participate in this unique event under the midnight sun.
on Banks Island
, to Ulukhaktok
on Victoria Island, and from Paulatuk
into the Sahtu Region
including Norman Wells
, Tulit'a
, Deline
, Fort Good Hope
, and Colville Lake
.
The Midnight Sun Complex, a stage-built multi-use facility, was completed in 2006. Featuring the Roy 'Sugloo' Ipana Memorial Arena, with an NHL-sized ice surface; the Inuvik Curling Club with 3 sheets and a well-situated licensed lounge/viewing area; the Inuvik Pool, an award-winning Class B recreational pool with lane swimming, waterpark features including a two story waterslide, hot tub, sauna and steam room; two squash courts; a multi-use community hall with stage; on-site business centre/production office; full building wireless; video-conferencing facility; on-site catering/kitchen; and meeting rooms for groups of 5 to 500. At full-building use, the Complex can host conferences, conventions and trade shows with up to 1200 delegates/exhibitors.
A new $110 million super-school, slated to open in 2013, is currently being built in Inuvik.
.
The CBC
has a local CBC Radio One
outlet, CHAK
AM 860, which relays CFYK
Yellowknife, as well as local programs: The hour-long lunchtime show Northwind, featuring interviews, weather and country music, as well as Tusaavik: A daily hour-long program in Inuvialuktun.
CKLB-FM
Yellowknife, a station catering to the territory's First Nation communities, has a local repeater in Inuvik, VF2082, at 101.9 FM. CKRW-FM
, an adult contemporary station from Whitehorse, Yukon
, has a license for a local repeater, CKRW-FM-2, at 98.7 FM—it is unknown if that repeater has begun broadcasting.
Aerial television is available through CHAK-TV
channel 6, the local CBC North
television
outlet; and CH4221 channel 13, which rebroadcasts APTN
. No part of the Northwest Territories is designated as a mandatory market for digital television conversion
.
's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (IAU/WGPSN) officially adopted the name Inuvik
for a crater on Mars
, at 78.7° north latitude and 28.6° west longitude. The crater's diameter is 20.5 km (12.7 mi).
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and is the administrative centre for the Inuvik Region.
The population as of the 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
was 3,484, but the two previous census counts show wide fluctuations due to economic conditions: 2,894 in 2001
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
and 3,296 in 1996
Canada 1996 Census
The Canada 1996 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 14, 1996. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 28,846,761...
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 3,586 with an average yearly growth rate of 0.3 from 1996.
History
Aklavik, Northwest Territories
Aklavik is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Until 1961, the community served as the regional administrative centre for the territorial government...
on the west of the Mackenzie Delta
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
, as the latter was prone to flooding and had no room for expansion. Initially called "New Aklavik", it was renamed to Inuvik.
Inuvik achieved village status in 1967 and became a full town in 1970 with an elected mayor and council. In 1979, with the completion of the Dempster Highway
Dempster Highway
The Dempster Highway, also referred to as Yukon Highway 5 and Northwest Territories Highway 8, is a highway that connects the Klondike Highway in Yukon, Canada to Inuvik, Northwest Territories on the Mackenzie River delta...
, Inuvik became connected to Canada's highway system, and simultaneously the most northerly town to which one could drive in the summer months — although an ice road
Ice road
Ice roads are frozen, human-made structures on the surface of bays, rivers, lakes, or seas in the far north. They link dry land, frozen waterways, portages and winter roads, and are usually remade each winter. Ice roads allow temporary transport to areas with no permanent road access...
through the Mackenzie River delta connects the town to Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
, in the winter.
Between 1971 and 1990, the town's economy was supported by the local Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
Station, CFS Inuvik
CFS Inuvik
Canadian Forces Station Inuvik was a signals intercept facility located near Inuvik, NWT.The site started as NRS Inuvik , was commissioned HMCS INUVIK , and with armed forces unification became CFS Inuvik ....
, (originally a Naval Radio Station, later a communications research/signals intercept facility) and by petrochemical
Petrochemical
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
companies exploring the Mackenzie Valley and the Beaufort Sea
Beaufort Sea
The Beaufort Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska, west of Canada's Arctic islands. The sea is named after hydrographer Sir Francis Beaufort...
for petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
. This all collapsed in 1990 for a variety of reasons, including disappearing government subsidies, local resistance to petroleum exploration, and low international oil prices.
On 10 February 2010, the Google Street View
Google Street View
Google Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth that provides panoramic views from various positions along many streets in the world...
imaging service uploaded images of most Inuvik streets. It is currently the northernmost Canadian community so imaged.
Demographics
Population: 3,484 in 2006Breakdown: Inuvialuit
Inuvialuit
The Inuvialuit or Western Canadian Inuit are Inuit people who live in the western Canadian Arctic region. They, like all other Inuit, are descendants of the Thule who migrated eastward from Alaska...
(predominately Uummarmiut
Uummarmiut
The Uummarmiut is the name given to the Inuvialuit who live predominantly in the Mackenzie Delta communities of Aklavik and Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada...
), 38.9%; First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
, 18.4%; Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
, 4.7%; other Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
, 1.2%; non-native, 36.7%
The main language spoken in Inuvik is English, though schools teach and a handful of local people still speak Inuvialuktun
Inuvialuktun
Inuvialuktun, or Western Canadian Inuit language, Western Canadian Inuktitut, Western Canadian Inuktun comprises three Inuit dialects spoken in the northern Northwest Territories by those Canadian Inuit who call themselves Inuvialuk .Inuvialuktun is spoken by the Inuit of the Mackenzie River delta...
, and Gwich’in
Gwich’in language
The Gwich’in language is the Athabaskan language of the Gwich’in indigenous people. It is also known in older or dialect-specific publications as Kutchin, Takudh, Tukudh, or Loucheux. In the Northwest Territories and Yukon of Canada, it is used principally in the towns of Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort...
. The CBC Radio broadcasts an hour of programming a day in each of these languages.
There are also about 100 Muslims, most of whom came there for economic opportunities. A small mosque (dubbed "Little mosque on the tundra
Little Mosque on the Prairie
Little Mosque on the Prairie is a Canadian sitcom on CBC, created by Zarqa Nawaz and produced by WestWind Pictures. It is filmed in Toronto, Ontario and Indian Head, Saskatchewan...
") was established in 2010.
Geography
Inuvik is located on the East Channel of the Mackenzie Delta, approximately 100 km (62.1 mi) from the Arctic Ocean and approximately 200 km (124.3 mi) north of the Arctic CircleArctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
.
Due to its northern location, Inuvik experiences an average of 56 days of continuous sunlight
Midnight sun
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at latitudes north and nearby to the south of the Arctic Circle, and south and nearby to the north of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Given fair weather, the sun is visible for a continuous...
every summer and 30 days of polar night
Polar night
The polar night occurs when the night lasts for more than 24 hours. This occurs only inside the polar circles. The opposite phenomenon, the polar day, or midnight sun, occurs when the sun stays above the horizon for more than 24 hours.-Description:...
every winter.
Access is via the Dempster Highway
Dempster Highway
The Dempster Highway, also referred to as Yukon Highway 5 and Northwest Territories Highway 8, is a highway that connects the Klondike Highway in Yukon, Canada to Inuvik, Northwest Territories on the Mackenzie River delta...
for the majority of the year. The highway relies on ferries and ice bridges to get across the rivers. It is thus closed during the time of freeze-up (roughly late-October to mid-December), for ice to form and allow ice bridge
Ice bridge
An ice bridge is a frozen natural structure formed over seas, bays, rivers or lake surfaces. They facilitate migration of animals or people over a water body that was previously uncrossable by terrestrial animals, including humans. The most significant ice bridges are formed by glaciation, spanning...
s, and thaw (roughly mid-May to mid-June) to allow the ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
to run. At these times, there is air access only.
When the Mackenzie River is ice-free, Northern Transportation Company Limited
Northern Transportation Company Limited
Northern Transportation Company Limited is a marine transportation company in the Canadian and American Arctic owned by Norterra, a holding company jointly owned by the Inuvialuit of the Northwest Territories and the Inuit of Nunavut...
provides a commercial barge service from Hay River
Hay River, Northwest Territories
Hay River , known as "the Hub of the North," is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town and an old town with the Hay River Airport between them...
, on Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake is the second-largest lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada , the deepest lake in North America at , and the ninth-largest lake in the world. It is long and wide. It covers an area of in the southern part of the territory. Its given volume ranges from to and up to ...
to the regional terminal in Inuvik. The annual sealift
Sealift
Sealift is a term used predominantly in military logistics and refers to the use of cargo ships for the deployment of military assets, such as weaponry, vehicles, military personnel, and supplies...
moves supplies as far east as Taloyoak
Taloyoak, Nunavut
Taloyoak or Talurjuaq is located on the Boothia Peninsula, Kitikmeot, in Canada's Nunavut Territory. The community is served only by air and by annual supply sealift. Taloyoak may mean "large blind", referring to a stone caribou blind or a screen used for caribou hunting...
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
and west to Barrow
Barrow, Alaska
Barrow is the largest city of the North Slope Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is one of the northernmost cities in the world and is the northernmost city in the United States of America, with nearby Point Barrow being the nation's northernmost point. Barrow's population was 4,212 at the...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
A distinct feature of Inuvik is the use of "utilidors" – above-ground utility conduits carrying water and sewer – which are covered by corrugated steel. They run throughout town connecting most buildings, and as a result there are many small bridges and underpasses. The utilidors are necessary because of the permafrost
Permafrost
In geology, permafrost, cryotic soil or permafrost soil is soil at or below the freezing point of water for two or more years. Ice is not always present, as may be in the case of nonporous bedrock, but it frequently occurs and it may be in amounts exceeding the potential hydraulic saturation of...
underlying the town.
Another feature is an Inukshuk
Inukshuk
An inuksuk is a stone landmark or cairn built by humans, used by the Inuit, Inupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America. These structures are found from Alaska to Greenland...
placed outside the Mackenzie Hotel, which was rebuilt in 2006.
A great majority of roads are paved, and there are both concrete and metal-grill sidewalks alongside the roads.
Climate
Famous attractions
Inuvik's Our Lady Of Victory ChurchOur Lady Of Victory Church (Inuvik)
Our Lady of Victory Parish is a Catholic parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith located in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. The church building is often called the Igloo Church, and is a famous landmark in the region. It is the most-photographed building in the Inuvik....
, often called Igloo Church, is a famous landmark in the region. It is the most-photographed building in the town.
The Canadian Arctic's northernmost mosque will become operational in Autumn 2010 after being built in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
and moved 4000 km (2,485.5 mi) by truck and barge. Some media reports have mistakenly called the mosque "the world's northernmost mosque." However, this is untrue. There are mosques in Norilsk
Norilsk
Norilsk is an industrial city in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located between the Yenisei River and the Taymyr Peninsula. Population: It was granted city status in 1953. It is the northernmost city in Siberia and the world's second largest city north of the Arctic Circle...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
; and Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, both of which are further north than Inuvik.
Annual events of note
The Great Northern Arts FestivalGreat Northern Arts Festival
The Great Northern Arts Festival is held each year in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Lasting approximately ten days, it is an annual event held each summer. It was established in 1989 by Sharlene Alexander and Sue Rose. While the festival's mandate is to serve Northern artists and craftspeople,...
has been held annually for 10 days in the middle of July since 1989. The Festival has hosted over 1800 artists from across Canada's north, and from as far away as Japan and Australia over 22 years and is the largest annual tourism event in the Beaufort Delta. Featuring on-site demonstrations, 50+ arts workshops, a 3500-piece gallery, an outdoor carving village, an interactive artist studio zone, nightly cultural performances, northern film screenings, family activities and an Arctic fashion show, the Festival attracts visitors from around the world to travel the Dempster Highway to visit Inuvik and the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in Settlement Regions.
The annual Sunrise Festival happens on the second weekend of the new year, when the sun finally breaks the horizon after about thirty days of darkness. The Festival is an all-day community event highlighted by dog-sled races, a long-program fireworks show and community bonfire. This Festival was highlighted in the award-winning 2010 national Tropicana Orange Juice commercial 'Arctic Sun'.
Inuvik celebrates the Muskrat Jamboree each year in late March or early April. Started in 1957, the event brings together thousands of people to participate in traditional games, watch the dog-sled and snowmobile races and dance (jig) the night away in town. Most events are held on the Mackenzie River where several community groups operate concessions in stove-heated traditional McPherson tents, preparing hot soup, bannock
Bannock (food)
Bannock is a variety of flat quick bread. The word can also be applied to any large, round article baked or cooked from grain. When a round bannock is cut into wedges, the wedges are often called scones. But in Scotland, the words bannock and scone are often used interchangeably.-Scottish:"Bannock"...
, baked goods, coffee, Labrador tea, hot chocolate and other traditional refreshments. Many participants and spectators wear traditional clothing and often local artisans will have something to sell. In conjunction with the Muskrat Jamboree, the Town of Inuvik hosts the annual Muskrat Cup 3-on-3 Pond Hockey Tournament on the frozen Mackenzie River, the world's most northerly cash tournament.
The weekend closest to the summer solistice (June 21) each year features the Midnight Sun Fun Run, a 5K, 10K and Half-Marathon that starts at midnight under the blazing 24-hours of sunlight experienced for 50+ days each summer in Inuvik. Runners from around the world make their way North to participate in this unique event under the midnight sun.
Facilities
A new hospital opened in early 2003, providing service to an area extending from Sachs HarbourSachs Harbour, Northwest Territories
Sachs Harbour is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Situated on the southwestern coast of Banks Island in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, the population according to the 2006 census count was 122 people. The two principal languages in the town are...
on Banks Island
Banks Island
One of the larger members of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Banks Island is situated in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is separated from Victoria Island to its east by the Prince of Wales Strait and from the mainland by Amundsen Gulf to its south. The Beaufort Sea lies...
, to Ulukhaktok
Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories
Ulukhaktok is a small hamlet on the west coast of Victoria Island, in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The 2006 census indicated a population of 398 of which 360 were Inuvialuit or Inuit along with 7.5% non-Aboriginal and 2.5% North American Indian...
on Victoria Island, and from Paulatuk
Paulatuk, Northwest Territories
Paulatuk is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located adjacent to Darnley Bay, in the Amundsen Gulf...
into the Sahtu Region
Sahtu Region
The Sahtu Region is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories in Canada. The region consists of five communities with the regional office situated in Norman Wells. With the exception of Norman Wells the communities are predominately First Nations.-Communities:The Sahtu Region...
including Norman Wells
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories
Norman Wells is the regional centre for the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada...
, Tulit'a
Tulita, Northwest Territories
Tulita, which in Dene language means "where the rivers or waters meet," is a hamlet in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was formerly known as Fort Norman, until 1 January 1996...
, Deline
Deline, Northwest Territories
The Charter Community of Délįne is located in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada on the western shore of Great Bear Lake and is northwest of Yellowknife. Délįne means "where the waters flow", a reference to the headwaters of the Great Bear River, Sahtúdé.The population as of the...
, Fort Good Hope
Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories
Fort Good Hope is a charter community in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on a peninsula between Jackfish Creek and the east bank of the Mackenzie River, about 145 km northwest of Norman Wells. The two principal languages are North Slavey and English...
, and Colville Lake
Colville Lake, Northwest Territories
Colville Lake is a settlement corporation located in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located 50 km north of the Arctic Circle, on a lake of the same name, and is northeast of Norman Wells.Population is 126 according to the 2006 Census, of which the majority...
.
The Midnight Sun Complex, a stage-built multi-use facility, was completed in 2006. Featuring the Roy 'Sugloo' Ipana Memorial Arena, with an NHL-sized ice surface; the Inuvik Curling Club with 3 sheets and a well-situated licensed lounge/viewing area; the Inuvik Pool, an award-winning Class B recreational pool with lane swimming, waterpark features including a two story waterslide, hot tub, sauna and steam room; two squash courts; a multi-use community hall with stage; on-site business centre/production office; full building wireless; video-conferencing facility; on-site catering/kitchen; and meeting rooms for groups of 5 to 500. At full-building use, the Complex can host conferences, conventions and trade shows with up to 1200 delegates/exhibitors.
A new $110 million super-school, slated to open in 2013, is currently being built in Inuvik.
Communications
The town is served by the Inuvik Drum, community newspaper published weekly by Northern News ServicesNorthern News Services
Northern News Services is a news company based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories with approximately 60 employees; they are one of the few remaining independent newspapers in Canada, producing all their own content, instead of relying on syndicated news...
.
The CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
has a local CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
outlet, CHAK
CHAK (AM)
CHAK is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 860 AM in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. The station broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network known as CBC North.-History:...
AM 860, which relays CFYK
CFYK (AM)
CFYK is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 1340 AM in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The station broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network and locally produced programs.-Local programming:...
Yellowknife, as well as local programs: The hour-long lunchtime show Northwind, featuring interviews, weather and country music, as well as Tusaavik: A daily hour-long program in Inuvialuktun.
CKLB-FM
CKLB-FM
CKLB is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 101.9 FM in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Owned by the Native Communications Society of the Northwest Territories, the station was licenced in 1985 and broadcasts a community radio format for the territory's First Nations population...
Yellowknife, a station catering to the territory's First Nation communities, has a local repeater in Inuvik, VF2082, at 101.9 FM. CKRW-FM
CKRW-FM
CKRW-FM, also branded The Rush, is a hot adult contemporary radio station in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.-History:Its first transmission was in 1969; it began simulcasting on AM and FM in 2004 at 610 kHz and 96.1 MHz...
, an adult contemporary station from Whitehorse, Yukon
Whitehorse, Yukon
Whitehorse is Yukon's capital and largest city . It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1476 on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas occupy both shores of the Yukon River, which originates in British Columbia and meets the Bering Sea in...
, has a license for a local repeater, CKRW-FM-2, at 98.7 FM—it is unknown if that repeater has begun broadcasting.
Aerial television is available through CHAK-TV
CHAK-TV
CHAK-TV is a small CBC Television/CBC North owned-and-operated station for the Northwest Territories community of Inuvik. The station was registered on May 16, 1968 to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to operate on Channel 6, with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts , and 300 watts ....
channel 6, the local CBC North
CBC North
CBC North is the name for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's radio and television service in the Canadian Arctic. Originally known as the CBC Northern Service, its first operations began in 1958 with radio broadcasts including the takeover of CFYK, originally a Royal Canadian Signal...
television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
outlet; and CH4221 channel 13, which rebroadcasts APTN
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is a Canadian broadcast and cable television network. APTN airs and produces programs made by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples...
. No part of the Northwest Territories is designated as a mandatory market for digital television conversion
Digital television in Canada
Digital television in Canada is transmitted using the ATSC standards developed for and in use in the United States. Because Canada and the U.S...
.
Planetary nomenclature
In 1988, the International Astronomical UnionInternational Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (IAU/WGPSN) officially adopted the name Inuvik
Inuvik (crater)
Inuvik is a crater located outside of the perennial north polar cap on Mars. The crater's diameter is 20.5 kilometres, and it lies at latitude 78.7°N, longitude 28.6°W. In 1988, the International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature named the crater after the town...
for a crater on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, at 78.7° north latitude and 28.6° west longitude. The crater's diameter is 20.5 km (12.7 mi).
Notable people
- Leona AglukkaqLeona AglukkaqLeona Aglukkaq, PC, MP is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative in the 2008 Canadian federal election for the riding of Nunavut....
, member of Parliament for the electoral district of Nunavut and current Minister of Health - Roger AllenRoger Allen (politician)Roger T. Allen is a former territorial level politician from Northwest Territories, Canada.Allen was first elected to the Northwest Territories Legislature in the 1999 Northwest Territories general election. He defeated future Commissioner Glenna Hansen to win the new Inuvik Twin Lakes electoral...
, former member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories - Zac BoyerZac BoyerZac Boyer is a former National Hockey League right winger.He played in only 3 regular season games and 2 playoff games for the Dallas Stars...
, former National Hockey League right winger - Tom ButtersTom ButtersThomas H. "Tom" Butters, is a retired politician from Northwest Territories, Canada. He had a long career as a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1970 until 1991....
, former member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories - Michel ChrétienMichel ChrétienMichel Chrétien is the youngest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his wife Aline. He was adopted as a Gwichʼin child from an Inuvik orphanage....
, the youngest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his wife Aline - Jason Elliott, former professional ice hockey player
- Fred KoeFred KoeFred Koe is a former territorial level politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest territories from 1991 to 1995....
, former member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories - Floyd RolandFloyd RolandFloyd K. Roland, MLA is a politician from Northwest Territories, Canada. He was the 11th Premier of the Northwest Territories, having held office from October 17, 2007 to October 26, 2011....
, Premier and current member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories - Eric SchweigEric SchweigEric Schweig is a First Nations actor best known for his role as Chingachgook's son Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans .-Early life:...
, Inuvialuit/Chippewa/DeneDeneThe Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...
actor