Polar bear licence plates coming back to Nunavut
Return of iconic symbol part of territory’s 25th anniversary
Nunavut’s iconic polar bear licence plate is set to make a comeback as part of celebrations marking Nunavut’s 25th anniversary. (File photo)
Polar bear licence plates are coming back to Nunavut.
The announcement was made in the legislative assembly Tuesday by David Akeeagok, the territory’s minister of economic development and transportation.
Akeeagok said the return is part of the Nunavut’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
“In honour of this occasion, we have worked diligently on [the] return of our polar bear licence plate,” Akeeagok said in his minister’s statement.
Nunavut continued to distribute the ursine-shaped plates from its creation as a territory in 1999 until 2012, through a copyright agreement with Northwest Territories, which retained the right to the design.
Then-transportation minister Peter Taptuna rolled out the current design, which portrays a polar bear in front of a northern lights backdrop, in a rectangular frame.
“Earlier this year, we signed an agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories allowing us to create our own bear-shaped plate without infringing any trademark legalities,” Akeeagok said, thanking N.W.T. Infrastructure Minister Caroline Wawzonek for her co-operation.
“This plate will reflect some similarities we have with our northern neighbours, while unmistakably being unique to Nunavut.”
The new design has not been released and Akeeagok did not announce a roll-out date. He said the project started early this year and is expected to be completed in December.
The old polar bear plates became a collectors’ item as they were phased out.
In 2012, some plates were stolen from vehicles in Iqaluit and ended up for sale on Ebay.
Finally
They should have never switched! NWT who barely have any bears should have switched to Northern Lights as Asians flock to the NWT to see them.
This is YUGE!!!!
Almost like….”Badges?!! We don’t need no steenkin’ badges.”🤣⭐
Am i going to be forced to change my exsisting plate for a new one that will probably be costing me money for a plate that does the exact same thing my old one does. Yay im so excited!