A ‘North of North’ Ice Cove location guide
Familiar sites in Iqaluit and beyond make cameos in comedy series set to stream globally April 10 on Netflix
Anna Lambe appears as Siaja during the filming of North of North outside the Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre in Iqaluit. The centre was prominently featured throughout the series as the Ice Cove community centre. (Photo by Jasper Savage, courtesy of Netflix/CBC/APTN)
With the premiere of North of North earlier this year on CBC and APTN, the fictional Nunavut hamlet of Ice Cove has joined the list of iconic Canadian sitcom small towns — a class that includes Corner Gas’ Dog River, Trailer Park Boys’ Sunnyvale Trailer Park, and Schitt’s Creek‘s setting of the same name.
In real life, North of North was mostly filmed in Iqaluit, Nunavut’s capital, in spring 2024.
The sitcom, co-created by Stacey Aglok-MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, is set to stream globally on Netflix on April 10.
With that, here’s a brief tour of Ice Cove — in terms of the real Iqaluit locations that made their mark on North of North.
Apex Beach
Apex Beach is seen during North of North filming in early 2024. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
One of the more prominently featured outdoor settings of the show, Apex Beach, is seen in the North of North première. It is featured again when the cast plays baseball in a subsequent episode, as well as during the finale’s bonfire scene.
With a historic Hudson Bay trading post and the red boat on site, Apex Beach stands out throughout the series. It’s also a major landmark in this part of Iqaluit.
Other Apex sites in the series include St. Simon’s Anglican Church and Nanook School.
Ice Cove community centre
The Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre is featured throughout North of North as the building that houses the Ice Cove community centre. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
North of North’s plot centres around Siaja taking a job at Ice Cove’s community centre as she tries to redefine her life.
The community centre featured in the show is actually Iqaluit’s Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre, which also houses the city’s public library.
If you enter the visitor centre in real life, you won’t find Colin and Millie messing around on the radio, or Helen working from her administrator’s office. Instead, you’ll find tourist information staff who are eager to welcome you to Iqaluit with their recommendations of what to see and do.
Discovery Hotel and Saturdays Bar and Grill
The Discovery hotel in Iqaluit plays itself on North of North and doubles as the entrance to a bar. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
The Discovery Hotel is where Alistair and Kuuk find themselves sharing a room during their stay in Ice Cove. In real life, the Discovery Hotel in Iqaluit is exactly as it appears in the show.
The hotel’s exterior was also featured as the entrance to Saturdays Bar and Grill in the show’s sixth episode.
The bar interior in those scenes is not at the Discovery Hotel. That’s actually Pat’s Lounge, which is one of the two bars inside Iqaluit’s Royal Canadian Legion. The “It’s 5:00 Somewhere” sign also really exists.
Iqaluit Curling Club
The Iqaluit Curling Club is where the North of North crew built a soundstage for filming last year. Its entrance is also where Ice Cove residents lined up to use the post office. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
There weren’t any curling scenes in North of North, but the Iqaluit Curling Club plays a central part in the series.
Without a film studio to build sets for interior shots, the North of North crew rented the curling club to use as a soundstage for much of the first half of 2024. The club has since returned to curling form.
The outside of the club was also featured in a scene in the show’s third episode, where it acted as the community’s post office.
Siaja and Ting’s house
Siaja and Ting’s house, featured prominently in North of North, is located in Iqaluit’s Tundra Valley neighbourhood. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Siaja and her husband Ting’s house is located in Iqaluit’s Tundra Valley neighbourhood, tucked at the end of a cul-de-sac.
With a view of Frobisher Bay, the house is seen throughout the series as Siaja cares for her daughter Bun, while also dealing with Ting’s drama.
Pangnirtung, Nunavut
Pangnirtung’s Fiord landscape is seen in several establishing shots in North of North. (File photo)
Heading 295 kilometres northeast of Iqaluit, the fiord landscape of Pangnirtung is used in several North of North establishing shots, providing more landscapes to highlight Baffin Island’s beauty.
The real location of fictional Ice Cove
This map, seen in the finale episode of North of North, identifies where Ice Cove is located. (Screenshot courtesy of CBC Gem)
In North of North’s final episode, a map reveals Ice Cove as being located on Prince of Wales Island.
The island is split between Nunavut’s Qikiqtaaluk and Kitikmeot regions. However, there are no communities there in real life.
And siaja’s moms house… located in apex
NN forgot the good ol Legion, the Quiet Side or Pats’s Lounge
It’s mentioned under the photo of the Discovery.
where do they film the inside of sijajas office? is that really the visitors center?
The interior location was the curling club.
It was a set the film makers designed it is not a real place.
Siaja wears some beautiful jackets and furs in the series. I would think they would be too expensive for most normal working people. Why not show reality??
Hi Kathy,
That type of traditional clothing is very common here. It is made by Inuit for Inuit. It is much warmer than southern style winter coats. Made for the arctic and worn in the arctic. I agree these kinds of clothes would be expensive in southern Canada and the rest of the world, but here it is an art passed on from generation to generation. They make beautiful pieces of clothing and we see them all the time here in the Arctic.
I’d love to have a pair of the boots, a fur hat and jacket. Is there a Etsy shop or consignment shop there, where I could purchase them?
My husband and I enjoyed this series so much! It’s wonderful to learn more about the arctic circle, the natives, and Inuit life. I came across this article as I’m on my way down a rabbit hole discovering more about the land and people. Can’t wait to see if there’s a season 2!
Just happy not being… y’know…. where internet is a maybe.🤪😂🤣
Because she is gifted them from her Auntie, her auntie makes them all the time.
I just binge watched the first season it was delicious, just the right amount of everything that makes a good comedy. Please tell me there will be more…the scenery, the wardrobe, music and the characters were so well done .
I love throat singing and the inuk language.
We’ve waited so long for shows that depict arctic life, inuit life with authenticity.
We want more!!!! thank you for sharing.
Watching this makes me feel like I’m back there again working . I love it up there im blessed to get the opportunities to be and work up there 🙏
So embarrassed by The Orange Idiot Trump. We will get through this.
America cherishes it’s happy relationship with Canada and always will.
On a happy note: I am having a delightful time watching North Of North! Wonderful acting and settings, not to mention the whole story line. Great writing! I am on episode 4. You might see me at the Discovery Hotel! I love to travel!
I send LOVE and gratitude to ALL who dwell North Of North!
I LOVED this show! So amazing to see the spectacular far north and learn a little bit about the modern way of life and culture, (understanding that it is a work of fiction). Congratulations to the creative team who made it happen and the people of the local communities for their spirit that comes through in the show. I am so proud to know we are part of the same wonderful country, Canada! More please!
I watched the show on Netflix and love it. Cannot wait to see more. It is an amazing setting and such a good cast. The show is so funny. Keep going with it.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this show. Pls keep it coming. Binged it in 2 days😁