Ilitaqsiniq to set up in new office space it helped design

A Nunavut cultural organization will soon have new office space in Rankin Inlet in a building it had a hand in designing.

Ilitaqsiniq, a non-profit that focuses on cultural programming and is also known as the Nunavut Literacy Council, is moving into its new workspace on the first floor of a new mixed-use building for commercial and residential tenants.

Inuit-owned and Kivalliq-based EPLS Properties Ltd. is the owner and builder of the new $8-million, three-storey building at 221 Piqtuq Ave.

“This building is unique because of the greenstone wall and floor panels we used,” said EPLS marketing manager Tim Hothi.

“It’s energy-efficient to the point that the mechanical systems need to be less powerful to accommodate the heat efficiency of the panels.”

Construction began in May 2022 and was completed in January, with some tenants already living in the top two floors, design facilitator Carolyn Walker said in an email Wednesday.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will occupy half of the space on the first floor and Ilitaqsiniq will fill the rest.

While Ilitaqsiniq is only renting its new office space, it was directly involved with the design.

Ilitaqsiniq executive director Adriana Kusugak, program directors and an entirely women-led team of designers and project managers collaborated earlier this year to design the 3,300-square-foot office space.

Ilitaqsiniq contributed approximately two-thirds of the $950,000 retrofit costs.

The new space will allow the non-profit’s Rankin Inlet staff to work together under one roof, rather than being separated in different workplaces in the community, Kusugak explained.

“We’re really excited to be able to move into a new office space. We hope it will support us to continue to do the innovative work that Ilitaqsiniq is known for,” she said, speaking by phone Wednesday as she prepared for the move.

“It’s important for us at Ilitaqsiniq that our staff are working in a good environment to bring out the best that they have to offer, and we believe that with this new office space we’ll be able to do that.”

Most of its cultural programming will still be provided out of various locations in the community, depending on the specific services. However, staff will now have a physical office space where they can collaborate face-to-face.

Ilitaqsiniq hopes to eventually have its own dedicated space in Rankin Inlet to allow office staff and cultural programming to function under one roof.