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Introduction

History

Introduction
Resolute Bay is Nunavut's 2nd most northerly community. Located on the southern tip of Cornwallis Island, Resolute is at about the 75th° N latitude. It is so far north that most times you have to look south to see the northern lights. Resolute Bay, or Qausuittuq, which faces on the North West Passage, has 210 people, 80% Inuit and 20% non-Inuit..

History
Resolute Bay was named after one of the ships that were sent to search for the Franklin Expedition, Resolute was first a weather station and air force base shortly after World War II. It became an Inuit community with the relocation of several families from Pond Inlet and Northern Quebec in 1953.

Community of Resolute Bay

Weather

Wildlife

Weather
For those new to the north it is important to be prepared and dressed warmly with heavy parka, wind pants, and snow boots. Permanent snow comes in September and lasts into early to middle June. Resolute is very windy but we get very little snow. Temperatures in December through April average -20° to -40° Celsius.

Resolute gets three months of 24 hour darkness (November 5 to February 5) and three months of 24 hour daylight (May 15 to August 15).

Wildlife
Cornwallis Island has little vegetation so consequently has few land animals. The seas however abound with seals, walruses, whales, polar bears, and in the late spring assorted waterfowl.

There ARE polar bears!

Transportation

Housing

Transportation
There are several ways of getting to Resolute Bay:
First Air Jet Service Wednesdays and Saturdays
Ottawa / Iqaluit / Resolute Bay
Seat Sale around $3600 return
Kenn Borek Mondays and Fridays
Iqaluit / Pond Inlet / Igloolik / Resolute Bay
Around $1400 return
Thursdays and Saturdays
Cambridge Bay / Resolute Bay
Around $1200 return

There are no taxis in Resolute Bay but you will have no problem getting a ride. Just ask The Co-op Hotel driver or the South Camp Inn driver.

Housing
Housing in Resolute Bay is limited. South Camp Inn may have apartments. A sample price would be $1600 per month for a three bedroom apartment plus electricity, water, and garbage collection.
The Tudjaat Co-op may have a house or apartment available. Prices vary. Occasionally there are houses that may be available for rent. Call your Principal or a member of the school staff.

Airport in Resolute Bay

School

School
NEED INFO!!

Tusarvik School

Food

Communications

Postal Service

Power

Medical

Police

Churches

Recreation

Food
Groceries can only be purchased at the Co-op, the only grocery store in town.
Some typical prices are:
Dozen eggs..................$4.99
Loaf bread....................$2.99
5lb potatoes..................$5.99
tin evaporated milk.......$3.59
700g McCains Fries.....$7.00
2 L ice cream...........$11.99
Can soft drink..........$2.50
chocolate bar...........$2.13

Food can also be ordered through food mail. Shipping is subsidized for essentials only. Most people who use this service either go through Yellowknife or Montreal. You can get the numbers when you arrive.
Many people order a sea lift to stock their larders. It must be done before early June.
There are several companies but this writer uses:
Marche Turenne Inc.
Telephone: 514-637-3231
Fax: 514-637-3230
Email: marcheturenne@bellnet.ca

They will send a catalogue. The supplies arrive the last week of August or the first week of September.
Because Resolute Bay is the terminus for the far north it is blessed with three good hotels. If you want to eat out, you call a day in advance and have what is being served, including soup, salad, dessert, etc. The Co-op also operates a take-out for things like burgers, fries, chicken, club sandwiches, etc.

Banks
There is no bank in Resolute Bay. The Co-op does have an Interact connection and the Co-op and Hotels accept debit cards and credit cards. The post office is located in the Co-op.

Communications
CBC Radio broadcasts on an FM station, which is interrupted at intervals during the day with local programming.

The Co-op and South Camp Inn operate internet services for $40.00/month and there will be broadband service coming this spring.

The Co-op provides the cable service for $60.00/month.

Power
The Nunavut Power Corporation supplies the town with electricity. Power service is well subsidized and fees vary depending on your residence, consumption, and household anywhere from $50 to $150 per month.

Medical
The nursing station has two full time nurses. A doctor visits every three or four months. Optometrists and dentists visit a couple of times a year. For specialist services, you would have to be flown to Iqaluit or Ottawa. This would be free of charge if you have your Nunavut Health Care Card.

Police
The RCMP maintain a two person detachment in Resolute Bay. Officers are available for emergencies 24/7.

Churches
There is one church, Anglican, with services in Inuktitut.

Recreation
Most people do not have cars or trucks but most families have one or more snowmobiles. While Resolute does not get a lot of snow, it does get hard packed and is great for snowmobiling. You can use a machine from late September to middle June. If you plan to have a snowmobile, it is advisable to have a good warm snowmobile suit, helmet, and gloves. Make friends with the locals and they will teach you what winter survival is all
about. Snowmobiling continues in the dark season.
The school has no gym but the Hamlet does. The gym is open 7 pm to 11 pm, Monday to Thursday, and 7 pm to 12 pm, Friday to Saturday. The favourite sports are volleyball, basketball, floorhockey, badminton, etc.

Church in Resolute Bay

Additional Information