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Qikiqtarjuaq celebrates new airport Casey Lessard Northern News Services Published Monday, January 16, 2012
"It was a nice, very pleasant surprise," Aariak said of the serenading she received at Qikiqtarjuaq's school and at the community dinner following the airport opening. "Airports are fundamental needs in our communities," she said. "They are our lifeline for food, travel, to go to school, meetings and for visiting family. They are the only gateway we have to go outside of the community and into the community. I think the people in the communities find it the most important infrastructure in the community." The new terminal, which started handling passengers in October, replaced a terminal designed to meet the needs of the hamlet 30 years ago. "It was so small that it would fill up very quickly," she said. "I can see how and why they appreciate this new terminal." "It was probably adequate for the size of the community 30 years ago," said Shawn Maley, director of Nunavut airports for the GN, "but like many Northern communities, it's growing. In the North, many families go to see both arriving and departing passengers, so you compound your load. It was definitely in need of a new, modern airport." The 230 sq. metre (2,500 sq. foot) building will allow for more space for fliers, visitors, workers and baggage. While numbers for 2011 are not yet available, the airport accommodated 1,039 landings in 2010. The makeover included upgrades to the observer radios and weather equipment as well as to the building's energy efficiency. Qikiqtarjuaq economic development officer Leelee Kakkee doesn't expect it will bring dramatic economic benefits or increased employment, nor does he expect any increases in the number of flights any time soon. He does expect it will bring one benefit, though, as the space will decrease overcrowding during busy times. "It's good for the community because sometimes the old building would be right full of passengers trying to go out," Kakkee said. "The old terminal was a very small building, and this new building has lots of room for people to go in and walk around. It's a good space now." "The small terminal building they had was outdated and unsafe to work and operate," said Peter Taptuna, minister of Economic Development and Transportation, "so with this new facility, we upgraded equipment and the overall morale of the people who work here." In a released statement, federal Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq said the terminal was an investment in the future. "Replacing aging infrastructure like the terminal building in Qikiqtarjuaq supports the needs of this growing community and contributes to the territory's transportation network," Aglukkaq said. The Qikiqtarjuaq airport is among the Nunavut projects funded by $182.68 million in infrastructure money under the Provincial-Territorial Base Funding agreement of the federal government's Building Canada plan. According to Infrastructure Canada, the federal government pays up to 75 per cent of costs for projects under the Provincial-Territorial Base Funding agreement. Officials with the GN did not return phone calls by press time regarding how much of the price tag was covered by the federal government and how much the GN paid.
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