Kimmirut celebrates opening of new airport terminal

Local Kimmirut artists’ work is displayed beside the waiting area at the community’s new airport terminal which opened Friday. (Photo courtesy of Nigel Audla)

Updated March 17 at 2:50 p.m. ET

After more than two decades of using an aging airport terminal, Kimmirut has received a long-awaited upgrade.

The Government of Nunavut officially opened the community’s new air terminal building Friday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a community feast.

“The one we had was dilapidated, more than 20 years old,” said Nigel Audla, the hamlet’s community economic development officer.

“The GN made an agreement with the [federal government] to provide a few communities with a new airport terminal building. Luckily, Kimmirut made the list.”

The new facility is part of the GN’s larger effort to modernize Nunavut’s airport infrastructure. New terminals are also set to open in Chesterfield Inlet, Naujaat, Whale Cove, Kugluktuk and Rankin Inlet in the coming months.

“Kimmirut is the first of six air terminal buildings built under our government’s leadership, and I am very proud of the work we have done to make this a reality,” said David Akeeagok, minister of economic development and transportation, Friday in a statement.

“I thank the people of Kimmirut for celebrating this milestone — this facility belongs to you, and I know it will serve the community well for years to come.”

The total combined cost of the new terminals in Kimmirut, Chesterfield Inlet, Naujaat, Whale Cove and Kugluktuk is $79.3 million, split nearly evenly between the GN and the federal government.

Akeeagok had announced in October the five smaller terminals would be operational by the end of 2024 with the larger one in Rankin Inlet expected to be finished a few months later. That project is expected to cost about $85 million, funded by the territorial and federal governments.

The openings were delayed due to supply issues with “key building components,” said Kathryn Devereaux, communications manager for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, in an email in January.

The new Kimmirut terminal includes a baggage claim area — an improvement from the old setup, where luggage was placed outside the terminal — and a display case showcasing local artwork and carvings.

The old terminal will be demolished this summer, though no date is set yet.

Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie emphasized the importance of the project in the community.

“This more modern facility will serve my constituency for years to come. It is an honour that my department played a critical role in making it happen,” Joanasie said in a statement.

Nunavut’s other new terminal buildings are scheduled to begin operations throughout the spring and summer of 2025, the statement said.

Note: This article was updated to correct the total price tag for the five airport projects.