Facts About Iqaluit & Nunavut
In 1576 British explorer Sir Martin Frobisher landed on southern Baffin Island in search of the Northwest Passage. He established a settlement at a spot that was long regarded as a campsite and fishing spot by the Inuit. It’s traditional name was Iqaluit - "many fish" in Inuktitut - but Canadian and American authorities named it Frobisher Bay, after the explorer.
In 1942 the United States built an airbase in Iqaluit to support the war effort. The airport served as a transit and refueling spot between North America and Europe and continues to play that role for civilian aircraft today.
In 1949, the Hudson Bay Company moved its south Baffin operations to the neighboring valley of Niaqunngut (officially called Apex) so it could be close to the airfield. In the following years, the local population grew rapidly during the construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line radar stations.
Hundreds of construction workers, military personnel and administrative staff moved to the area along with several hundred Inuit who wanted to take advantage of the medical care and jobs that the base provided. In the 1960’s, the Canadian government established permanent services in Frobisher Bay, medical facilities, schools and social services this, in turn, encouraged even more rapid growth of the local Inuit population .
While the U.S. military left the area in 1963, Frobisher Bay continued to grow as the government's administrative and service centre for much of the Eastern Arctic.
Frobisher Bay Officially Named Iqaluit
On January 1, 1987, the name of the town was officially changed from "Frobisher Bay" to "Iqaluit" – which matched official usage with the name that the Inuit population had always used. In December 1995, a referendum was held to select Iqaluit as the Capital of Nunavut and on April 19, 2001 it was officially recognized as a city.
Furthermore, the North West Territories was split into two and the Territory of Nunavut was established on April 1, 1999. This established Iqaluit as the capital city of the Eastern Arctic and the gateway to the now booming natural resource industry of the region.
Iqaluit is the transportation hub of the Eastern Arctic and is accessible by only aircraft and, subject to ice conditions, by boat (there are no roads that enter into the Nunavut territory). The Iqaluit Airport is a fully modern facility whose original World War II-era runway serves the needs of most classes of modern aircraft.
In addition to airline services, ships – in the middle of the summer - transport bulk and heavy goods to the city. As Iqaluit does not have a deep water harbour, goods are sent by barge ashore, or a ship may be beached at high tide with goods being unloaded when the tide goes out.
Iqaluit has a local road system serving nearby Apex and the Sylvia Grenell Territorial Park Reserve (including the famous “Road To Nowhere”). Many people in Iqaluit own their own vehicles, and share the road with snowmobiles and ATV's. Many people also use taxi-cabs, which are hired for $5 per person, per stop (regardless of distance).
Snowmobiles and sometimes dog sleds are used to travel to the surrounding areas. In winter, the nearby Qaummaarviit Territorial Historic Park and the more remote Katannilik Territorial Park are only accessible by these means.
The Frobisher Inn is an ideal location to start your adventure exploring the wonders of Iqaluit and Nunavut.