Stantec has been selected by West Kitikmeot Resources Ltd (WKR) to continue advancing the engineering and environmental consulting services for the Grays Bay Road and Port Project in Nunavut, Canada, infrastructure expected to boost the region’s mining prospects.

The project will allow direct access to the Northwest Passage and bring economic benefits to the north of Canada, Stantec says.

WKR signed memorandums of understanding with the Government of Nunavut and the Canadian Infrastructure Bank to provide additional financial support for the Grays Bay Road and Port Project. WKR says it is building an Inuit owned and led resources company, developing the Kitikmeot for the benefit of the Kitikmeot Inuit.

Through Stantec’s Inuit-owned partnership, Nunami Stantec Limited, has supported this project since 2016. Nunami Stantec is a partnership between the Kitikmeot Corporation, Sakku Investments Corporation and Stantec to provide environmental science and engineering consulting services to organisations throughout the three regions of Nunavut.

When complete, the Grays Bay Road and Port Project will aim to create a nationally significant northern trade corridor, aiding Inuit and Canadian sovereignty and offering new opportunities by unlocking Canada’s critical minerals wealth and supporting the northern economy.

The project will connect a deepwater port in the centre of the Northwest Passage via an all-season road to Contwoyto Lake – the northern terminus of the Tibbit-to-Contwoyto Winter Road. When complete, the project will provide road access from southern Canada to the Coronation Gulf. This access will dramatically lower the cost of doing business in the region by connecting northern Canada products to markets around the world and unlocking formerly inaccessible critical mineral deposits.

Arlen Foster, Principal and Infrastructure Practice Lead for Northern Canada, says: “Stantec is also engaged with the Government of the Northwest Territories for the southern portion of the road, which coupled with the Grays Bay Road and Port will fully connect the Kitikmeot region – and specifically the Northwest Passage – to southern Canada on a permanent basis. This is exciting as it opens the supply chain, providing access to critical minerals and strengthening Canada’s Arctic Sovereignty. The Grays Bay Road and Port Project will unlock the potential for new economic development in the North, empowering local communities and Indigenous businesses. Moreover, this project will play a key role in asserting Canada’s presence in the Arctic, solidifying our strategic position in the Northwest Passage while promoting long-term prosperity for generations to come.”

The Kitikmeot region, located in the western part of Nunavut, is a vast and remote area that is home to several Inuit communities. The Kitikmeot’s economy is primarily driven by natural resource extraction, including mining and exploration activities, which play a crucial role in the local economy. Additionally, the region holds significant historical and cultural importance for the Inuit people, with traditional practices and knowledge deeply embedded in the community’s way of life.

Angie Bates, Vice President and Sector Leader for Infrastructure and Environmental Services (Canada) at Stantec, said: “The memorandum of understanding between the Government of Nunavut and WKR represents a significant milestone in advancing the Grays Bay Road and Port Project. This additional financial support emphasises the importance of enhancing infrastructure in the North, fostering economic development, and improving access to vital resources for the communities in the region.”

Stantec says it has extensive experience in leading large infrastructure projects with extreme weather conditions in remote areas, including the Mackenzie Valley Highway, Slave Geological Province Corridor, Kivalliq Inter-Community Roadway, Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH) and the Iqaluit Airport. Now complete, the ITH connects the community of Tuktoyaktuk with southern Canada, fulfilling a national dream of connecting every coast in the country.