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INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS
PROJECTS IN THE FAR NORTH
Connecting the Canadian Arctic through infrastructure and
Indigenous knowledge by Arlen Foster and Angie Bates
Angie Bates is Vice President,
Sector Leader Infrastructure,
Environmental Services
(Canada), Stantec
Arlen Foster is Principal, Practice
Lead, Infrastructure, Stantec.
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MAGINE LIVING in a remote Arctic community where your
connection to the outside world is a single road—if one even
exists. And a winter road at that. That is often life in Northern
Canada.
Living and working in northern Canada is unique.
The vast, rugged landscape and untouched wilderness
create a beautiful setting for daily life. We are lucky to
witness the northern lights dancing across the night sky.
The remote communities are close-knit, with the location
providing a keen sense of support. Working here often involves engaging with local traditions and learning from the
Indigenous way of life, which values respect for the land
and community cooperation.
Northern Canada o昀昀ers a rewarding lifestyle 昀椀lled
with natural beauty, cultural heritage, and connection. But
transportation is a challenge. Winter roads—often the main
I
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roadway in Canada’s Arctic—provide access to the land
and food. They are part of Indigenous identity. These winter
roads are vital for transporting fuel, construction materials,
and other goods that are too expensive to transport by air.
However, climate change is reducing the amount of time
these roads can be open. If the temperatures rise over -5°C
(23°F), passage becomes a nightmare. If it rains, or warm
temperatures persist, the roads can fail quickly.
Researchers say the winter road season is growing shorter. More than half of Canada’s winter roads will become
unviable by the 2050s; all winter roads will be unusable by
the 2080s, according to the Canadian Climate Institute.
Moreover, it is expensive to build and maintain infrastructure in Canada’s Arctic. The lack of basic infrastructure
in Nunavut for example, like railroads and all-weather
roads, means materials must be shipped by sea or air. On
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GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
The 138-kilometre all-season Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway, completed in 2017 after
four years of construction, was the first in Canada to reach the Arctic Ocean.
