The Inuvik Research Centre has been in operation since 1964. It is located in Inuvik, NWT, just south of the tree line on the eastern edge of the Mackenzie Delta, in an ideal location to support researchers working in the northern NWT and northern Yukon.
Inuvik, a town of approximately 3,500 residents, acts as a regional centre for the northern NWT, and as such offers many amenities to visiting researchers. These include grocery stores, a hardware store, a department store, several ground and air shipping companies, a full-service Canada Post outlet, ATMs, a full-service CIBC branch, restaurants, and recreational facilities.
Inuvik is accessible via road for most of the year, except for periods in the spring and fall when both the ice roads and ferries are not in operation. Air service runs year-round, and includes daily jet service from Edmonton and Yellowknife (via Canadian North and First Air), as well as service from smaller planes three times weekly from Whitehorse (via Air North).
To date, more than 3,000 research projects involving more than 1,500 researchers have been conducted using the Inuvik facility. The Inuvik Research Centre operates year-round and can provide researchers with office space, access to a research library, high-speed and wireless internet, laboratory space and equipment, and accommodations. In addition, the facility is equipped with storage and freezer facilities and can provide field equipment to researchers. Research and monitoring services can also be provided on a contractual basis, and hiring of local research assistants can be facilitated. Please view the rest of the Inuvik Research Centre web pages for a more complete description of services and facilities available, and our Fee Schedule for a current pricing list.
As of May 2011, the Inuvik Research Centre will be housed in the Western Arctic Research Centre, a brand-new facility that was funded through the Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund (with funding administered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada). This new facility replaces the old Aurora Research Institute building, which was in need of an upgrade after 46 years in continuous operation. The new Western Arctic Research Centre was designed with the needs of the research community in mind, and will provide much improved services and facilities to visiting researchers. Some improvements include state-of-the-art labs, increased storage space for equipment and samples (including a walk-in fridge and walk-in freezer), classroom space, display areas, a more spacious staging area for field equipment, and office space that can be adapted for either individuals or research groups.
On 4 April 2011, News/North published a feature article about our new building.
For more information on services available, please contact the Manager, Inuvik Research Centre at (867) 777-3298 Ext. 232.