Fire at Iqaluit college residence uproots students, disrupts classes

An April 24 fire at the Ukkivik student residence in Iqaluit caused students to move and classes to be cancelled. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

This sign is posted on the door of the Nunavut Arctic College Ukkivik residence in Iqaluit. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

Broken windows on the second floor of Nunavut Arctic College’s Ukkivik residence and signs saying the building is closed are the most obvious results of an April 24 fire that closed the building and led to the cancellation of classes scheduled April 27 for the Ukkivik building.

At about 10:30 p.m April 24, a fire started in Ukkivik residence, at Nunavut Arctic College’s North 40 Campus in Iqaluit, said an April 26 news release from the college.

All students were evacuated from the building and the fire was contained to one room, the news release said.

No students or staff in the residence were hurt.

But the building’s sprinkler system ran for a long time time, causing extensive damage to the building and forcing the college to move all students staying at the residence into alternate accommodations, the college said.

The five programs currently being delivered at Ukkivik will move to a different location “to ensure the health and safety of all staff and students,” the college said.

Staff will meet April 27 at the main Iqaluit campus at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the coordination and delivery of those programs for the remainder of the academic year.

“The college is confident that all programs will be able to continue once alternate space has been identified,” the release said.

Investigators will conduct an evaluation of damage to the Ukkivik residence. But, until that’s completed, the NAC won’t use be using the residence.

More information will be provided through social media and public service announcements, the college said.