Inuvik

[in-oo-vik, ih-noo-]

Inuvik, town (1991 pop. 3,206), Northwest Territories, Canada, on the east channel of the Mackenzie River. It was built (1954-62) as a new townsite for Aklavik and was the first model town in the Canadian Arctic. Inuvik has an airport.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2004.
Licensed from Columbia University Press

Inuvik, Northwest Territories

Inuvik, (place of man), 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.

History

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 (meaning "Place of Man" in Inuvialuktun) in 1958 because of the confusion surrounding the Aklavik/New Aklavik split.

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 a part of 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, 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 (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.

Geography

Location : East Channel of the Mackenzie Delta, approximately 100 km (62 mi) from the Arctic Ocean and approximately 200 km (124 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. Unusual Features : 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 is closed during the time of freeze-up (roughly late-October to mid-December), for ice to form and allow ice bridges, 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.

Demographics

Population: 3,484 in 2006 Breakdown: Inuvialuit (predominately Uummarmiut), 36.8%; First Nations, 15.4%; Métis, 4.9%; other Aboriginal, 2.1%; non-native, 40.8%

The main languages spoken in Inuvik are, Inuvialuktun, Gwich’in and English.

Climate

Tourism

Famous Attractions

Inuvik's Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, often called Igloo Church, is a famous landmark in the region. It is the most-photographed building in the town.

Annual Events of Note

The Great Northern Arts Festival has been held annually for 10 days in the middle of July since 1989. The Festival hosts artists from across the Circumpolar World with additional artists occasionally coming from as far away as the Orkney Islands, the Yucatán, and Australia. Local visitors and world travellers alike attend this annual event each year; many returning as repeat guests and volunteers.

Inuvik celebrates Muskrat Jamboree each year in late March or early April. Most events are held on the Mackenzie River. Several community groups operate concessions in tents, preparing hot soup, bannock, coffee and tea and other warm refreshments. Inuvik's 50th anniversary homecoming is planned for the week of July 11-21, 2008.

Facilities

A new hospital opened in early 2003, providing service to an area extending from Sachs Harbour 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.

Another facility, called the Inuvik Family Centre, was recently completed, at a cost of $8.5 million.

It contains a very modern pool, gym, squash court, hot tub, sauna, steam room, space for community meetings and a very twisting 2-storey waterslide.

Popular eating and drinking establishments include The Mad Trapper (named after Albert Johnson "Mad Trapper of Rat River"), the Nanook Lounge, The Roost, The Cafe Gallery, and the new Mackenzie hotel, which has a lounge bar and restaurant.

The town is served by the Inuvik Drum, community newspaper published weekly by Northern News Services.

Notable people

Roger Allen, former member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Zac Boyer, former National Hockey League right winger
Tom Butters, former member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Michel Chrétien, the youngest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his wife Aline
Jason Elliot (ice hockey), former professional ice hockey player
Fred Koe, former member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Floyd Roland, Premier and current member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Eric Schweig, Inuvialuit actor