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Arviat

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Overview

Arviat (Inuktitut syllabics: ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ) is Nunavut's third largest town with a population of 2,864 (2021).

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,429 words

WBP editorial3

Seasonal rhythms for the visitor

Arviat’s calendar is dictated by the sea ice, which becomes a highway in winter and retreats in summer. When the bay freezes, locals embark on dog‑sled expeditions across the slick, offering a rare chance for visitors to ride in a traditional qamutik and witness the subtle choreography of wildlife tracking on the ice. Come the thaw, the shoreline turns into a launchpad for kayakers chasing polar bears that surface to nurse on kelp. Timing your stay around the migration of bowhead whales – typically late summer – means you can join community-led watchpoints, where elders share oral histories while the giants breach nearby. Each season presents a distinct texture of life, far beyond the static image of a frozen hamlet.

Cultural exchange beyond the visitor centre

Most cultural encounters in Arviat happen in the informal spaces of community halls and home kitchens, where a guest might be invited to share a seal stew or learn the art of carving a small soapstone figurine. Rather than a polished museum experience, these moments are guided by residents who view hospitality as a reciprocal act. When arranging a visit, ask the local co‑operative for a “family dinner” slot – a few hours of conversation can reveal the layered meaning behind place‑names, the nuances of seasonal song, and the contemporary challenges of housing and food security. Such immersion respects the community’s agency and enriches the traveller’s understanding of Inuit resilience.

Logistics you won’t find in guidebooks

Reaching Arviat requires careful planning: the hamlet is served by a modest gravel airstrip and a seasonal sealift that delivers bulk supplies in summer. Flight schedules are weather‑dependent, so it’s wise to book a flexible return ticket and carry a stash of high‑energy snacks for possible delays. Mobile reception is spotty; a satellite phone or a pre‑downloaded offline map of the Hudson Bay coastline will save you from getting lost on a winter trek. Finally, the cost of fuel and provisions is higher than in southern Canada, so budgeting an extra 15‑20 per cent for everyday items helps avoid unpleasant surprises.

Introduction

Hamlet in Nunavut, CanadaArviat ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ (Inuktitut)HamletTwo of the churches in Arviat FlagArviatShow map of NunavutArviatShow map of CanadaCoordinates: 61°06′30″N 094°03′30″W / 61.10833°N 94.05833°W / 61.10833; -94.05833CountryCanadaTerritoryNunavutRegionKivalliqElectoral districtArviat North-Whale CoveArviat SouthGovernment • TypeHamlet • MayorJoe Savikataaq Jr. • Senior Administrative OfficerSteve England • MLA for Arviat North-Whale CoveJohn Main • MLA for Arviat SouthJamie KablutsiakArea (2021) • Total126.14 km2 (48.70 sq mi) • Population Centre2.42 km2 (0.93 sq mi)Elevation10 m (33 ft)Population (2021) • Total2,657 • Density22.7/km2 (59/sq mi) • Population Centre2,766 • Population Centre density1,143.6/km2 (2,962/sq mi)DemonymsArviaqmiut, ArviatmiutTime zoneUTC−06:00 (CST) • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (CDT)Postal codeX0C 0E0Area code867Websitewww.arviat.ca Arviat (Inuktitut pronunciation: [aʁviˈat], syllabics: ᐊᕐᕕᐊᑦ; formerly called Eskimo Point until 1 June 1989) is a predominantly Inuit hamlet located on the western shore of Hudson Bay in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada. Arviat ("place of the bowhead whale") is derived from the Inuktitut word arviq meaning "Bowhead whale". Earlier in history, its name was Tikirajualaaq ("a little long point"), and Ittaliurvik ("a place where the people make tents").

Demographics

[edit] Federal census population history of ArviatYearPop.±%1976848—    19811,022+20.5%19861,189+16.3%19911,323+11.3%19961,559+17.8%20011,899+21.8%20062,060+8.5%20112,318+12.5%20162,657+14.6%20212,864+7.8%Source: Statistics Canada In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Arviat had a population of 2,864 living in 632 of its 694 total private dwellings, a change of 7.8% from its 2016 population of 2,657. With a land area of 126.14 km2 (48.70 sq mi), it had a population density of 22.7/km2 (58.8/sq mi) in 2021. Panethnic groups in the Hamlet of Arviat (2001−2021) Panethnic group 2021 2016 2011 2006 2001 Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Indigenous 2,730 95.62% 2,525 95.28% 2,190 94.6% 1,915 93.19% 1,790 94.46% European 95 3.33% 105 3.96% 115 4.97% 120 5.84% 100 5.28% South Asian 20 0.7% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.49% 0 0% African 10 0.35% 20 0.75% 0 0% 20 0.97% 10 0.53% Southeast Asian 0 0% 10 0.38% 0 0% 10 0.49% 0 0% East Asian 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.49% 0 0% Latin American 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.49% 0 0% Middle Eastern 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% Other/multiracial 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.43% 0 0% 0 0% Total responses 2,855 99.69% 2,650 99.74% 2,315 99.87% 2,055 99.76% 1,895 99.79% Total population 2,864 100% 2,657 100% 2,318 100% 2,060 100% 1,899 100% Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Community

[edit] Arviat is the southernmost community on the Nunavut mainland and is close to the geographical centre of Canada. In Arviat, Inuktitut and English are primarily spoken, having the third largest population in Nunavut, behind Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit. From the 2011 Canadian census to the 2016 Canadian census there was a population increase of 14.6%. The community became a hamlet under the name Eskimo Point (name first appeared on maps in 1738) in 1977. Cargo and passenger air service is provided by Calm Air, Canadian North[citation needed] and Nolinor Aviation (charter only) out of Arviat Airport. Destinations include other settlements in Nunavut and Manitoba, including Winnipeg. An elder of Arviat Hunting and fishing are very active in the community; they are the primary source of sustenance. To the south, the town of Churchill, Manitoba is accessible by boat during the summer and fall. Churchill is accessible by snowmobile and Bombardier from Arviat. Churchill is often travelled to for supplies. Arviat is well known around the Arctic for its artistic qualities. It is a thriving community with many talented musicians: Susan Aglukark, a well known musician; Simon "Johnny Cash of the North" Sigyariaq; the band Uniaqtuq, with Arsene, Pelagie and Mary Angalik; the Arviat Band, with John and Billy Kuksuk, Paul Kattau and others; the Irksuk band, played by Paul Irksuk and sons. All have had CDs recorded commercially. Many types of wildlife are abundant. Within the vicinity of Arviat, polar bears, millions of migratory birds, beluga whales, and caribou are often spotted. The only access is by air and snowmobile, but the Nunavut government and the federal Senate member for Nunavut, Dennis Patterson, are investigating the possibility of a highway from Thompson, Manitoba, Lynn Lake, or Gillam, Manitoba, or an extension of the Hudson Bay Railway from Churchill, Manitoba to Rankin Inlet via Arviat. Similar to other Arctic coast communities there is an annual sealift but it is not available to passengers. Arviat was originally inhabited by the Paallirmiut, a coastal/inland Inuit band. In 1957, dying of starvation, the last remaining Ihalmiut, another Caribou Inuit band, were relocated to Arviat by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Though there are differences between the two bands, they recognize a need to work together in order to benefit the community. In 1993, Mark Kalluak published a historical essay on soapstone carving in Arviat, entitled Pelts to Stone. A History of Arts and Crafts Production in Arviat. Arviat was featured in Dancing Towards the Light, a 2017 CBC News short film and article telling the story of the hamlet's annual dance competition.[citation needed] The community is home to Arviaqpaluk Radio, a community radio station which operates under an exemption from CRTC licensing for low-power broadcasters.

Climate

[edit] According to the Köppen climate classification, Arviat has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc). However, using Nordenskjöld's alternate formula for distinguishing Arctic from subarctic climates, it has a polar climate (Köppen ET); as expected from this, it is north of the Arctic tree line. Spring is slow to warm up, with June being cooler than September and May cooler than October. With a yearly mean of −9.3 °C (15.3 °F) it is the third-warmest in Nunavut and the maximum of 33.9 °C (93.0 °F) recorded on 22 July 1973 is second only to that of Kugluktuk. Arviat has a yearly rainfall of 174.4 mm (6.87 in), the fourth-wettest in Nunavut, but only 112.4 cm (44.3 in) of snow, the third-least.[citation needed] Temperatures above freezing have never been recorded between 18 November and 17 March, inclusive; conversely, accumulating snow has never been recorded in July or August. Climate data for Arviat (Arviat Airport)WMO ID: 71174; coordinates 61°05′38″N 94°04′18″W / 61.09389°N 94.07167°W / 61.09389; -94.07167 (Arviat Airport); elevation: 10.4 m (34 ft); 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1973–present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high humidex −1.8 −3.3 2.6 4.0 15.0 30.5 34.3 32.6 26.2 19.1 1.9 −0.4 34.3 Record high °C (°F) −1.5(29.3) −1.5(29.3) 3.5(38.3) 4.0(39.2) 21.3(70.3) 30.8(87.4) 33.9(93.0) 30.0(86.0) 23.0(73.4) 18.1(64.6) 2.1(35.8) −0.1(31.8) 33.9(93.0) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −24.4(−11.9) −24.2(−11.6) −18.1(−0.6) −9.4(15.1) −1.1(30.0) 8.3(46.9) 15.2(59.4) 14.1(57.4) 8.0(46.4) −0.4(31.3) −11.0(12.2) −19.4(−2.9) −5.2(22.6) Daily mean °C (°F) −28.2(−18.8) −28.1(−18.6) −22.8(−9.0) −14.2(6.4) −4.3(24.3) 4.8(40.6) 11.2(52.2) 10.7(51.3) 5.2(41.4) −2.9(26.8) −15.0(5.0) −23.2(−9.8) −8.9(16.0) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −31.9(−25.4) −32.0(−25.6) −27.4(−17.3) −18.7(−1.7) −7.3(18.9) 1.3(34.3) 7.1(44.8) 7.3(45.1) 2.4(36.3) −5.5(22.1) −19.0(−2.2) −27.0(−16.6) −12.6(9.3) Record low °C (°F) −48.3(−54.9) −47.0(−52.6) −41.5(−42.7) −36.7(−34.1) −26.7(−16.1) −11.0(12.2) −4.0(24.8) −0.6(30.9) −8.3(17.1) −26.0(−14.8) −34.6(−30.3) −42.5(−44.5) −48.3(−54.9) Record low wind chill −62.7 −64.7 −62.4 −49.5 −35.7 −19.1 0.0 0.0 −14.0 −37.2 −51.6 −59.3 −64.7 Average precipitation mm (inches) 12.4(0.49) 10.9(0.43) 16.3(0.64) 19.4(0.76) 19.2(0.76) 30.0(1.18) 42.0(1.65) 60.1(2.37) 47.3(1.86) 27.4(1.08) 19.6(0.77) 13.4(0.53) 318.0(12.52) Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 0.1(0.00) 0.5(0.02) 6.7(0.26) 25.7(1.01) 38.3(1.51) 61.3(2.41) 43.5(1.71) 9.2(0.36) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 185.2(7.29) Average snowfall cm (inches) 7.4(2.9) 4.9(1.9) 9.2(3.6) 10.1(4.0) 11.7(4.6) 1.1(0.4) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 3.4(1.3) 12.5(4.9) 12.1(4.8) 9.0(3.5) 81.4(32.0) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 10.7 10.1 11.2 11.3 9.8 10.3 11.0 16.6 14.8 13.0 11.6 11.1 141.5 Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.33 2.4 8.1 10.1 15.4 12.2 3.5 0.0 0.0 52.1 Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 6.0 5.5 7.7 6.6 5.2 0.6 0.0 0.0 1.2 8.1 9.9 6.9 57.7 Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST) 74.2 73.7 77.5 82.2 84.5 77.1 72.3 75.6 76.2 84.9 83.4 78.1 78.3 Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada(May maximum)