Nunavut is the youngest and fastest-growing territory in Canada that was created in 1999, with very friendly citizens and lots of attractive places to visit. The population of Nunavut is around 35,000 with an area of 2 million km2 (811,510 sq mi).
In recent years, it has become a city with loads of people from different cultures with a beautiful landscape and interesting recreational activities.
There are many reasons why you would make a decision to move there, however you should know the pros and cons of living in Nunavut.
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PROS
1. Natural. beauty
This place has a lot of natural beauty, from the Northern Lights to some of Canada’s largest waterfalls. Also, There are so many opportunities to explore wildlife such as polar bears, seals, beluga whales, caribou, and arctic foxes. It is possible to spot these animals while on land or even from an airplane window.
2. Unique culture
With a population of 35,000 people, Nunavut has a unique culture that comes from its Inuit heritage and mixed influences from other cultures like Christianity and traditional beliefs.
3. Large coastline
Nunavut has the largest coastline in Canada. The Arctic Archipelago is made up of over thirty-six thousand islands, there are a lot of waterways to explore if you are interested in a kayak adventure.
4. Communities are peaceful
The people of Nunavut have plenty of community activities which are a major part of their cultural heritage, these activities help to promote inter-community peace and acceptance. This is one of the many reasons why people enjoy living in Nunavut, as they get to know their neighbours and meet new friends with similar interests while participating in group activities.
5. Largest province in Canada
Nunavut is the largest province in Canada. With land area covering over two million kilometers, Nunavut is the largest territory in Canada, with a lot of outdoor activities and space for a lot of adventures.
6. A great economy
In recent years, Nunavut has been regarded as the fastest-growing, youngest community in Canada, and with a lot of investors coming in every year this growth increases. Its major industries -the communication, tourism, fishing, and mining sectors are most significant in influencing this economic growth.
7. Friendly government policies
The government ensures all the citizens have a wide range of opportunities and experiences, the area makes a home for many diverse cultures, and friendliness is encouraged by various social events organized in the city centre.
8. Educational infrastructure
The Canadian government largely supports the educational system in the province. Nunavut supports post-secondary education and university students by providing monetary support. Joining a university is a little bit more expensive here than it is in Europe, however, the cost of completing an advanced degree here is cheaper.
9. Dancing
A very unique part of the culture is another Nunavut is the dancing, every community has its own specific style of throat singing and square dancing.
10. Hunting
Hunting has been a way of life for generations among Nunavut’s people, who have learned to survive during times when food was scarce.
Hunting has helped to put food on the table for many families, while also providing a source of revenue. Hunting in Nunavut is typically done by men during the fall and winter months when temperatures are low enough to keep meat fresh without needing refrigeration. If you like to hunt, this is a great place for you.
11. Sports
Nunavut is a hub for a lot of outdoor sporting activities, its landscape and long winter creates an atmosphere that allows for playing hockey and curling indoors, many outdoor activities including fishing, kayaking and hiking could be really fun too.
CONS
1. Hard to find friends
It can be a challenge to find friends because of how spread out everyone lives, some people might not have anyone within their age group with whom they share common interests.
2. Expensive place to drink alcohol
Nunavut is an expensive place to drink alcohol. Prices in Nunavut are about five to six times more expensive than what you would pay elsewhere in Canada for the same type of alcoholic beverage. There is a reason why booze prices are so high, and this has to do with government policy that sets liquor taxes at rates three or four times higher than most provinces charge.
3. Internet is not ideal
Internet is not ideal. The cost of internet service in Nunavut, for the most part, is quite high when compared to what these same services are available elsewhere in Canada. Also, most of internet providers do not offer unlimited services, meaning that you will be charged for data usage.
4. Expensive Flights
The cost of flights in Nunavut is higher than in the rest of Canada. The reason for this is that the Airlines often not fly into smaller communities and there are fewer options for people to travel by air. If you plan to visit your relatives outside of the province, you can expect to pay and expensive price. Many families choose to visit relatives outside of the holiday time because it is a less expensive.
5. Not many places to go and shopping
The territory has a small population, which means there are limited resources and an acute shortage of goods. There is also very little opportunity for entertainment or even shopping because the nearest stores can be hours away from town. This leaves many people feeling isolated with few options to buy some goods.
6. Lack of accessibility features
This is an important factor that can determine if Nunavut would be a good or bad place for you. The territory has few sidewalks, ramps, or elevators, making mobility for people with disabilities a challenge. If you have vision problems, for example, it might be difficult to find accessible transportation as well (though this will vary depending on your disability).
7. Lack of effective public transportation.
Nunavut is a remote and sparsely populated territory in Northern Canada. It has no public transportation system, so it’ss hard to get around if you don’t have your own personal vehicle.
8. Difficult to find medical care
It’s difficult to find medical care if you are injured or sick because there are only a few doctors available for an entire region that covers millions of square kilometers.
9. Life expectancy
Life expectancy is 71 years old which ranks among the lowest in Canada.
10. No roads get into Nunavut
Nunavut is only accessible by road or sea; it would take a plane or a snowmobile to get into Nunavut. Across its two million square kilometers it has only about eight hundred- and fifty-kilometers worth of roads in its entire province; a road trip between places in the city is largely impossible. Motorable roads are scarce, and air transportation is usually the option for distances longer than 20 kilometers.
11. The weather is unpredictable
The temperature in this area drops really low in the winter, it could sometimes drop as low as -5.3 degree celsius and get really frigid on average and compared to other communities in Canada. The winters in Nunavut often have very long nights and could last for up to 9 months.
12. High taxes
The commodities in Nunavut are heavily tasked by the federal government, citizens also incur high tax rates on food consumption, property and on income.
13. Mining of natural resources
There are a lot of untapped natural resources being mined in Nunavut, a lot of these mining activities may sometimes lead to environmental disruption and in some cases could cause death to human life.
14. The cost of living
The cost of living is a lot more expensive in Nunavut than in other places, the housing, food, fuel, and other utility costs are very high, and being a loosely populated province with a low job market that also doesn’t help.
15. High job turnover rate
Most of the citizens within the area are not skilled enough for the available jobs, these jobs available are mostly government jobs. The people from the south who take up the available jobs usually end up leaving the area.
Is Nunavut a good place to live?
The advantages and disadvantages of living in Nunavut paint a picture of the benefits of a mutually beneficial social climate for improving education and healthcare while still nurturing components of a free market economy.
Although the cost of living is something to consider, the area provides a promise of new and exciting opportunities that could improve the quality of anyone’s personal and professional life.