Federal funding boost means better college facility in Iqaluit
Expansion will speed the move toward a more Inuit public service, says minister responsible
The new Nunavut Arctic College facility planned for Iqaluit got a $10 million boost from the federal government Wednesday.
The dean of the college says the money is going to mean a bigger and better facility.
"[It] has a tremendous impact on the scope of the project and our ability to start construction next spring," said Eric Corneau.
The new 2,500 square metre facility is on track to open in 2019.
In announcing the funding, the federal minister of small business and tourism, Bardish Chagger, said it will result in a better space for training and research.
"Our youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow, they're the leaders of today and this provides them the opportunity to discover and innovate and do the great work that we need them to do."
Inuit Language and Culture Centre of Excellence
The new facility will be linked to the current building. It's set to house many of the classes that were held at the Old Residence building, which was ruined by a fire last year.
Nunavut's minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Paul Quassa, said the expansion will help speed the move toward a public service that is representative of the territory's population. Inuit make up about 82 per cent of the population but only about 50 per cent of the public service.
Quassa also said the new building will be home to the Inuit Language and Culture Centre of Excellence, a place for students to learn about their heritage.
with files from Elyse Skura