IglulikSA国际影视传媒檚 Arctic Fresh Projects has been awarded the contract to build the 24-bed trauma and addictions treatment facility set to open in Iqaluit in 2025.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 something that Nunavut has needed for a long time,SA国际影视传媒� said Evan Schellenberg, general manager of construction at Arctic Fresh Projects. SA国际影视传媒淭o be able to be a part of a project that is so needed across the territory is a humbling thing.SA国际影视传媒�

The facility was formerly known as the Nunavut Recovery Centre but is now being called Aqqusariaq, which refers to a trail that must be taken to reach oneSA国际影视传媒檚 destination. The new name was selected by the Cultural and Lived Experience Advisory Committee, Aqqusariaq development team, and industry experts from across the territory who are also developing the facilitySA国际影视传媒檚 future programming.

Bidding for the project closed on April 6. The Government of Nunavut selected Arctic FreshSA国际影视传媒檚 $65-million bid on June 22, favouring it over a $77-million bid from Pilitak Enterprises and an $89-million proposal from 5581 Nunavut Ltd.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e comfortable and confident in the number we submitted,SA国际影视传媒� Schellenberg said. SA国际影视传媒淲e believe thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the right number for that project. I think that the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 own cost and estimate would reinforce that as well.SA国际影视传媒�

Schellenberg said Arctic Fresh Projects is unlikely to begin construction on Aqqusariaq this year due to the timing of the sealift season. However, Iqaluit-based construction company Tower Arctic will start civil work SA国际影视传媒� tasks like installing water and sewage infrastructure SA国际影视传媒� this summer.

Arctic Fresh Projects has also partnered with a southern contractor called Penn-Co Construction Canada, which has been beneficial in many ways, particularly in terms of training the companySA国际影视传媒檚 Inuit workforce.

SA国际影视传媒淭hrough that partnership weSA国际影视传媒檝e been able to grow more in the last three years than we could have on our own,SA国际影视传媒� Schellenberg said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been able to give our own Inuit employees training and on-the-job experience we would not have been able to give them solely on our own. Some of are own Inuit employees are actually well on their way to being site superintendents for major projects, which weSA国际影视传媒檙e very excited about.SA国际影视传媒�

Arctic FreshSA国际影视传媒檚 Nunavut-based workforce is a big part of the reason the company was able to submit such a low bid for Aqqusariaq, according to Schellenberg.

SA国际影视传媒淭he more you can build a local building by local people, the more cost effective youSA国际影视传媒檒l be,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Schellenberg is confident the facility will open on schedule sometime in 2025. It will feature an SA国际影视传媒渁bsolutely beautifulSA国际影视传媒� main building, he said, and an out-building on the land.

Arctic Fresh Projects was incorporated in 2020 as an offshoot of its parent company, Arctic Fresh. The company has been busy in its first few years, building several small residential and commercial projects in Iglulik, and undertaking the new housing authority office in Sanikiluaq. It has also started work on a new women and childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 shelter in the same community, and was recently awarded the contract to renovate Coral HarbourSA国际影视传媒檚 Sakku School.

Aqqusariaq is among its most ambitious undertakings.

James Ayodele, director of Cambridge BaySA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Healthy Living, sees progress on the Iqaluit facility as SA国际影视传媒渁 really good thing.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I heard about the contract being awarded, I was ecstatic about it,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

AyodeleSA国际影视传媒檚 department runs an on-the-land treatment program outside Cambridge Bay that has been lauded for its innovative approaches to addiction and recovery. He said many people who have used the program, nicknamed 28 Days on the Land, have expressed the importance of offering similar programming in Iqaluit, particularly programming that can operate year-round.

Makigiaqta Training Corporation, a subsidiary of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, is set to provide $11.8 million in funding to train Inuit counsellors to work at Aqqusariaq. However, Ayodele is concerned about the facilitySA国际影视传媒檚 ability to maintain a full complement of staff long-term.

SA国际影视传媒淪taffing is one of the major operation issues that they could run into,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 mean to be a harbinger of doom, but unfortunately I see that happening. Across Nunavut, staffing has been a very major issue.SA国际影视传媒�

Ayodele said he sees Aqqusariaq as a SA国际影视传媒渟tep in the right direction,SA国际影视传媒� but would ultimately like to see similar facilities built in each of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 three regions.

SA国际影视传媒淗aving three facilities across the territory, which I believe is the long-term goal, will definitely be adequate.SA国际影视传媒�