KIMMIRUT/LAKE HARBOUR
The aftershock of a violent incident over the Easter weekend in the tiny hamlet of 400 has left a town in mourning, scores of Arctic College students in disbelief and many questions without answers.
After one week, police have still not identified the names of the three young people found dead in their Kimmirut home - a 27-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman and their 27-month-old child - all found Saturday, March 30 in the morning.
Last Wednesday, police reclassified the suspicious deaths as "murder," although they are not seeking any suspects and there is no risk to residents of Kimmirut, said Sgt. Greg Sutherland.
"We're still awaiting official results from the autopsy," he said.
Nunavut Chief Coroner Padma Suramala said Friday autopsies were completed and remains will be sent back to the community Monday for funeral service.
While names have not been officially released, the young woman was well known at Nunavut Arctic College's Iqaluit campus, where she was studying office administration at the tight-knit school.
Students returned to classes Tuesday to the terrible news that one of their classmates, a student active in extra-curricular activities, who had gone home for the holiday weekend, would not return.
"Classes have resumed to normal as much as possible, although it is tough to recover quickly from an incident such as the one that happened (Easter) weekend," said acting dean Louise Flaherty, adding that students and instructors were provided counselling.
"NAC sends its most sincere condolences to the families suffering from this tragedy."
No one at the Kimmirut hamlet office wished to comment, but Petanie Pitsiulak, an administrative clerk, wrote in a statement: "The hamlet of Kimmirut is sending condolences to the family and friends of the three people that passed away last week."
Kimmirut's RCMP detachment is back to its usual three members after RCMP major crime and forensic units returned to Iqaluit.
No new details, including the names of the dead, were released by press deadline.
