Map of Canada with Nunavut highlighted in red
Location of Nunavut in Canada
Map showing locations of all municipalities of Nunavut
Distribution of Nunavut's 25 municipalities by type

Nunavut is the least populous of Canada's three territories with 36,858 residents as of 2021 Canadian census, but the largest territory in land area, at 1,836,993.78 km2 (709,267.26 sq mi).[1] Nunavut is also larger than any of Canada's ten provinces.[1] Nunavut's 25 municipalities cover only 0.2% of the territory's land mass, but are home to 99.95% of its population. The remaining 99.8% of Nunavut's land mass comprises three small unincorporated settlements (0.015%) and three vast unorganized areas (99.796%).[2] As of 2021, no people were recorded as living in the unincorporated areas of Kitikmeot, Unorganized and Qikiqtaaluk, Unorganized, while a total of 18 were listed in Kivalliq, Unorganized.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Municipalities are created by the Government of Nunavut in accordance with the Cities, Towns and Villages Act (CTVA)[9] and the Hamlets Act.[10] According to the CTVA, a municipality is an "area within the boundaries of a municipal corporation, as described in the order establishing or continuing the municipal corporation" where a municipal corporation is either a city, town or village.[9] According to the Hamlets Act, a municipality is similarly an "area within the boundaries of a hamlet, as described in the order establishing or continuing the hamlet". All of Nunavut's 25 municipalities are hamlets except for the City of Iqaluit,[5] which is the territory's capital.

The largest municipality by population in Nunavut is the capital city, Iqaluit, with 7,429 residents, home to 20.2% of the territory's population.[3] The smallest municipality by population is Grise Fiord with 144 residents.[3] The largest municipality by land area is Kugluktuk, which spans 538.99 km2 (208.11 sq mi), while the smallest is Kimmirut at 2.3 km2 (0.89 sq mi).[3]

Cities, towns, and villages

An application can be submitted to incorporate a community as a city under the CTVA at the request of a minimum 25 residents that are eligible electors, or at the initiative of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.[9]: s.2  The proposed city must have a minimum assessed land value of $200 million or an exception made by the Minister.[9]: s.4(3)(c)  Iqaluit is the only city in Nunavut, with 7,429 residents and a land area of 51.58 km2 (19.92 sq mi) in 2021.[3] It incorporated as a city on April 19, 2001.[11]

Although Nunavut has no municipalities with town status, the CTVA provides opportunity to incorporate a town. A town can be incorporated at the request of a minimum 25 residents that are eligible electors, or at the initiative of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.[9]: s.2  The proposed town must have a minimum assessed land value of $50 million or an exception made by the Minister.[9]: s.4(3)(b)  Iqaluit held town status between 1980 and 2001.[12] Nunavut also has no villages, but like town status the CTVA provides opportunity to incorporate a village. A village can be incorporated at the request of a minimum 25 residents that are eligible electors, or at the initiative of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.[9]: s.2  The proposed village must have a minimum assessed land value of $10 million or an exception made by the Minister.[9]: s.4(3)(a)  Iqaluit held village status between 1974 and 1980.[12]

Cities, towns, and villages have a council comprising a mayor and eight councillors serving for four years (three years, reduceable to two or staggerable by bylaw, prior to 2019), although the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs can vary the council size at the council's request.[9]: ss.12–16  Since 2003, cities are uniquely able to refer to their councillors as "alderpersons" or "council members",[9]: s.12(2)  but Iqaluit has not done so. There is no other difference in the governmental forms of a city, town, or village.[9]

Hamlets

At the request of a minimum 25 residents that are eligible electors, or at the initiative of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, an application can be submitted to incorporate a community as a hamlet under the Hamlets Act.[10]: s.2  Unlike cities, towns and villages, the incorporation of hamlets is not conditioned by a prescribed minimum assessed land value.[10]: s.4 

Nunavut has 24 hamlets. The largest hamlet by population is Rankin Inlet, with 2,975 residents, and the smallest is Grise Fiord, with 144 residents.[3] The largest hamlet by land area is Kugluktuk, which spans 538.99 km2 (208.11 sq mi), while the smallest is Kimmirut, at 2.30 km2 (0.89 sq mi).[3]

Like cities, towns, and villages, hamlets have a council comprising a mayor and eight councillors, variable by the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs on council request.[10]: s.12  Unlike the other forms, however, hamlets are also capable of having councillors directly appointed by the Minister – either ex officio or in a personal capacity – as long as such persons do not exceed a third of the total council composition and are otherwise eligible to serve.[10]: s.11  Councillors serve for four years if elected,[10]: s.13(1)  or for the duration of the office held if appointed by the Minister ex officio or up to two years if appointed by the Minister in a personal capacity.[10]: s.11(4) 

List of municipalities

Skyline of Iqaluit
Iqaluit, Nunavut's capital city and largest municipality
Downtown Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut's second-largest municipality, largest hamlet and runner-up in the 1995 capital city plebiscite
Churches in Arviat
Nunavut's third-largest municipality and second-largest hamlet is Arviat.
Baker Lake in autumn
Baker Lake is the fourth-largest municipality in Nunavut.
List of municipalities in Nunavut
Name Status[5] 2021 Canadian census[3]
Population
(2021) 		Population
(2016) 		Change Land area
(km2) 		Population
density
(/km2)
Arctic Bay Hamlet 994 868 +14.5% 245.16 4.1
Arviat[a] Hamlet 2,864 2,657 +7.8% 126.14 22.7
Baker Lake Hamlet 2,061 2,069 −0.4% 179.54 11.5
Cambridge Bay Hamlet 1,760 1,766 −0.3% 195.78 9.0
Chesterfield Inlet Hamlet 397 437 −9.2% 139.49 2.8
Clyde River Hamlet 1,181 1,053 +12.2% 103.38 11.4
Coral Harbour Hamlet 1,035 891 +16.2% 126.39 8.2
Gjoa Haven Hamlet 1,349 1,324 +1.9% 28.55 47.3
Grise Fiord Hamlet 144 129 +11.6% 332.90 0.4
Igloolik Hamlet 2,049 1,744 +17.5% 104.86 19.5
Iqaluit[b] City 7,429 7,740 −4.0% 51.58 144.0
Kimmirut[c] Hamlet 426 389 +9.5% 2.30 185.2
Kinngait[d] Hamlet 1,396 1,441 −3.1% 9.89 141.2
Kugaaruk[e] Hamlet 1,033 933 +10.7% 5.06 204.2
Kugluktuk[f] Hamlet 1,382 1,491 −7.3% 538.99 2.6
Naujaat[g] Hamlet 1,225 1,082 +13.2% 406.19 3.0
Pangnirtung Hamlet 1,504 1,481 +1.6% 7.98 188.5
Pond Inlet Hamlet 1,555 1,617 −3.8% 170.83 9.1
Qikiqtarjuaq[h] Hamlet 593 598 −0.8% 130.80 4.5
Rankin Inlet Hamlet 2,975 2,842 +4.7% 20.03 148.5
Resolute Hamlet 183 198 −7.6% 115.02 1.6
Sanikiluaq Hamlet 1,010 882 +14.5% 109.68 9.2
Sanirajak[i] Hamlet 891 848 +5.1% 16.36 54.5
Taloyoak[j] Hamlet 934 1,029 −9.2% 35.38 26.4
Whale Cove Hamlet 470 435 +8.0% 273.89 1.7
Total municipalities 36,840 35,944 +2.5% 3,476.17 10.6
Nunavut 36,858 35,944 +2.5% 1,836,993.78 0.0

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Eskimo Point was officially renamed Arviat on June 1, 1989.[13]
  2. ^ Frobisher Bay was officially renamed Iqaluit on January 1, 1987.[14]
  3. ^ Lake Harbour was officially renamed Kimmirut on April 1, 1982.[15]
  4. ^ Cape Dorset was officially renamed Kinngait on February 28, 2020.[16]
  5. ^ Pelly Bay was officially renamed Kugaaruk on December 3, 1999.[17]
  6. ^ Coppermine was officially renamed Kugluktuk on January 1, 1996.[18]
  7. ^ Repulse Bay was officially renamed Naujaat on July 2, 2015.[19]
  8. ^ Broughton Island was officially renamed Qikiqtarjuaq on November 1, 1998.[20]
  9. ^ Hall Beach was officially renamed Sanirajak on February 28, 2020.[21]
  10. ^ Spence Bay was officially renamed Qikiqtarjuaq on July 1, 1992.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2021 and 2016 censuses – 100% data". Statistics Canada. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names: From January 2, 2012 to January 1, 2013" (PDF) (PDF). Statistics Canada. pp. 6–7. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Nunavut". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  4. ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data". Statistics Canada. February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "List of municipalities – Nunavut". Canada Revenue Agency. April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Select from a list of geographies, Nunavut, Kitikmeot, Unorganized (Unorganized) [map]". February 1, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Select from a list of geographies, Nunavut, Qikiqtaaluk, Unorganized (Unorganized) [map]". February 1, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Select from a list of geographies, Nunavut, Kivalliq, Unorganized (Unorganized) [map]". February 1, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cities, Towns and Villages Act, RSNWT (Nu) 1988, c. C-8.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Hamlets Act, RSNWT (Nu) 1988, c. H-1
  11. ^ "Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names From January 2, 2001 to January 1, 2006" (PDF). Statistics Canada. June 2007. p. 372. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  12. ^ a b "About Iqaluit: History". City of Iqaluit. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  13. ^ "Eskimo Point". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  14. ^ "Frobisher Bay". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  15. ^ "Lake Harbour". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  16. ^ "Nunavut minister signs off on name changes for two communities". Nunatsiaq News. February 28, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  17. ^ "Pelly Bay". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  18. ^ "Coppermine". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  19. ^ "Naujaat, Nunavut, residents celebrate official renaming: Repulse Bay changes its name to Naujaat, Inuktitut for 'a nesting place for seagulls'". CBC News. July 6, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  20. ^ "Broughton Island". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  21. ^ "Nunavut minister signs off on name changes for two communities". Nunatsiaq News. February 28, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  22. ^ "Spence Bay". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.

External links

Articles related to municipalities in Nunavut
Categories