Sakku Investments Corp. landed a $150-million contract through the Government of Nunavut in April to operate the new Kivalliq Long-Term Care Centre in Rankin Inlet.
The contract, signed in partnership with Ottawa-based Embassy West Senior Living, is in effect for 10 years and comes with an option for a five-year renewal. The long-term care facility will contain 24 beds and offer levels 3-5 services for Elders with increasing needs. It’s expected to open in late fall or early winter.
Sakku Investments has also joined forces with Nunavut Arctic College to help promote the training of local personal support workers who will staff the long-term care centre. It’s estimated that the facility will create up to 45 jobs.
In a separate development last October, Sakku Investments officially opened the Uquutaq Centre Medical Boarding Home in Winnipeg. It was established at a former Clarion Hotel, which Sakku Investments purchased earlier in the year. There are 139 rooms and 40,000 square feet to host events and commercial office rentals.
Qikiqtaaluk Corp orders new fishing vessel
Qikiqtaaluk Corporation arranged for the purchase of an 80-metre fishing trawler last September.
A Spanish company will supply the vessel to be known as Saputi II.
It will be designed with a capacity for 1,100 tonnes of turbot and 750 tonnes of shrimp, which is a considerable upgrade from the Saputi’s 900-tonne turbot and 580-tonne shrimp limits.
Delivery of the ship, which cost close to $100 million and will employ up to 30 people, is expected by late 2025 or early 2026.
In its 2022-23 annual report, the most recent available as of late May, the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation indicated that it has 742 employees, a reduction of 30.1 per cent from 1,062 a year earlier.
There were 357 Inuit employees, comprising 51 per cent of the corporation’s workforce in 2022-23.
Boarding home expansion
An Edmonton-area boarding home that the Kitikmeot Corporation is involved in arranged to move into a new and larger location in June 2023.
Larga Homes, which is a joint venture with Nunasi Corporation and the Gwich’in Development Corporation, relocated from downtown Edmonton to a site near Edmonton International Airport in Leduc, Alta.
The upgrade was needed because there was greater demand than capacity for years. The new location has 115 rooms versus the 30 or so in the old location.
$3.4 million for Nunavut Development Corp
The Government of Nunavut has $3.4 million set aside for the Nunavut Development Corporation in 2024-25, matching the amount earmarked in 2023-24. The largest amount — $1.4 million — will go to grants and contributions. There’s $1.1 million for compensation and benefits. Travel and transportation is expected to consume almost $200,000, among lesser expenses.
Among its eight subsidiaries, Kitikmeot Foods in Cambridge Bay is set to get the largest contribution at $330,000. Next is Kivalliq Arctic Foods in Rankin Inlet at $260,000, then Uqqurmiut Arts and Crafts in Pangnirtung at $238,000, the Ontario-based sales division at $200,000, Jessie Oonark arts and crafts in Baker Lake at $165,000, Kiluk arts and crafts in Arviat at $140,000 and Taluq Designs arts and crafts in Taloyoak at $70,000. No government funding through the development corporation is listed for Papiruq Fisheries in Whale Cove or Ivalu arts and crafts in Rankin Inlet.
The GN describes the development corporation as “a territorial corporation that delivers programs and services designed to create employment and income opportunities, stimulate the growth of business and to promote the economic objectives of the Government of Nunavut.”
Fact file
Nunavut development corporations by region
Qikiqtaaluk Corporation
Qikiqtani Industry Ltd.
Qikiqtaaluk Properties Inc.
Qikiqtani Retail Services Ltd.
Qikiqtaaluk Business Development Corporation
Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre
Qikiqtaaluk Fisheries Corporation
QC Fisheries Division
Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation
Panarctic Communications
Qikiqtani Resource Institute
Akiuq Corporation
Sikku Corporation
Qikiqtaaluk Environmental
Tulaktarvik Inc.
Nunasi Corporation
NCC Development Ltd.
NCC Properties Ltd.
Larga Baffin
Nunavut Sealink and Supply Inc.
Toromont Arctic Ltd.
Uqsuq Corporation
Nunavut Petroleum Corporation
Unaaq Fisheries Inc.
Sanaviallianiq Ltd.
QC-Canadian Helicopters
Northern Coalition Corporation
Nunavut Fisheries Association
Nunavut Fisheries Marine Training Consortium
Inuit Development Corporation Association
Northern Shrimp Research Foundation
Kitikmeot Corporation
Acasta Helicopters
BBE Supply Chain Co.
Geotech Drilling Services
Geotech Ekutak Ltd.
Hiqiniq Energy Corp.
Kitikmeot BBE Expediting
Kitikmeot Blasting Services
Kitikmeot Camp Solutions
Kitikmeot Cementation Mining and Development
Kitikmeot Challenger LP (professional and engineering)
Kitikmeot Environmental
Kitikmeot Region Properties
Kitikmeot Tire Mine Services
Larga Kitikmeot
Larga Ltd.
Medic North Nunavut
Momentum North
Nasittuq Corporation
NCC Investment Group
Nuna Group of Companies
Nunami Stantec
Nunasi Corporation
Nunavut Resources Corporation
Nunavut Sealink and Supply Inc.
Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics Corporation
Panarctic Lightering Corporation
Qilak (logistics)
Tasiuq (logistics)
Top of the World Travel
Toromont Arctic Ltd.
Tundra Site Services North
West Kitikmeot Gold
Sakku Investments Corporation
Kivalliq Contractors Group
Ingirrajjutiit Corp.
Custom Helicopters
Nunavut Sealink & Supply Inc.
Kivalliq Development Corporation
Sakku Properties Ltd.
Sakku Innovative Building Solutions
NCC Investment Group Inc.
NCC Kivalliq Properties
Nukik Corporation
Kivalliq Alternative Energy
Sakku Enterprises Ltd.
Larga Kivalliq
Uquutaq Medical Boarding Home
Sakku/Embassy Corp
Tasiuq Ltd.
Arctic Kenworth (51 per cent stake)
Kivalliq Contractors Group/Sakku Mining (51 per cent stake)
Kivalliq Tire Mine Services (51 per cent stake)
Qaaqtuq Dyno Nobel (51 per cent stake)
Toromont Arctic (20 per cent stake)
Kivalliq Mechanical Solutions (51 per cent stake)
Nanuq Builders Group (51 per cent stake)
Nunami Stantec Ltd. (40 per cent stake)
Sakku and YAB Management Group (76 per cent stake)
Sources: Qikiqtaaluk Corp./Kitikmeot Corp./Sakku Investments