Fire in college residence displaces students
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Monday, May 4, 2015
IQALUIT
A fire at Nunavut Arctic College's Ukkivik Residence in Iqaluit April 24 left college officials scrambling to find housing for 38 students and space for classes displaced due to the fire and water damage from the sprinkler system.
The fire started at about 10:30 p.m., and was contained to one room in the residence. All students were evacuated and no one was hurt. But the sprinkler system ran for an extended time, and caused damage throughout the building.
The college was able to find accommodations for the 38 students living there at college residences elsewhere in the city or through other rentals.
"Everything is back to normal in terms of delivery of courses," said Nunatta campus dean Eric Corneau. "All of our students have been relocated to other locations, and our staff have been
accommodated in another location to deliver courses at main campus, the jewelry/metalwork building, and 2225 until the end of June, for now."
The fisheries management program is the only one remaining at the Ukkivik Residence because that part of the building was unaffected by the damage.
"For the time being, they're going to stay there," he said, noting that the interpreter-translator, fur production and design, Inuit studies and trades classes have moved.
Crews will assess the damage this week to determine the extent of the damage.
