Photo: The winter of discontent — another blizzard shuts down Nunavut’s capital

Open up the suitcases, put down your notebooks and grab a good book, Nunavummiut. It’s another storm day. Flights to and from Iqaluit are cancelled and schools, daycare centres and offices in Nunavut’s capital are closing April 20 due to deteriorating weather conditions. Environment Canada has issued blizzard warnings in communities across southern Baffin and throughout the Kivalliq including Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Whale Cove, Chesterfield Inlet, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour, Cape Dorset, Pangnirtung, Kimmirut and Iqaluit. The federal agency says visibility is low in the communities and wind gusts are expected to reach between 80 and 90 kilometres an hour today. As of 11 a.m. the Government of Nunavut has closed offices in Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Kimmirut. In Iqaluit, Toonik Tyme’s Fear Factor event, scheduled for tonight, has been moved to April 21. The City of Iqaluit has suspended municipal services with emergency services still running unless it’s deemed unsafe for them. As of 11 a.m., the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit has suspended all court operations. Listen to your local radio for more weather and closure updates. (PHOTO BY STEVE DUCHARME)