Last fall, Isuarsivik announced that it had secured $40.5m to build the new main facility and 12 housing units for staff. As planned, the call for tenders for the construction of the main facility was launched in early January 2020. On February 17, the Committee opened and reviewed the bids, and then confirmed the lowest compliant bidder to be Les Construction Pépin et Fortin Inc., a contractor with a solid experience in Nunavik.

The contract was supposed to be awarded the following weeks, but the COVID-19 outbreak forced us to postpone the signature of the contract. We had to engage in an extensive risk analysis while the construction sector was locked for several weeks. To enable Isuarsivik to take an informed position in this very complex situation, we’ve been in close communication with actors of the construction industry, legal advisors, regional organizations that are promoting construction projects, and our partners from all levels of government.

Taking into account the perspective of all parties, we finally awarded the construction contract to Les Constructions Pépin et Fortin Inc. on April 16, 2020. This date became an important milestone in Isuarsivik’s history because its dream is finally getting closer to becoming a reality.

Our project team and the contractor are working very hard to ensure everything is in place to start construction this summer, while respecting the increased safety measures adopted to protect the workers and the population of Nunavik. However, considering the uncertainties regarding the re-opening of the Nunavik region to the construction workers, Isuarsivik is working with its partners on a contingency plan to ensure the success of the project despite the current complex situation.

Isuarsivik would like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of some individuals who have played a major role in this contract-awarding process, namely:

• Its Board Members; Dave Forrest, Mary Aitchison, Martha Greig, Shirley White Dupuis, Steven Kelly, Sean McDonald, Charlotte Perret, Minnie Maali Snowball, and Louisa Kuananack
• Its executive director, Alicia Aragutak
• Its development plan coordinator, Philippe-Alexandre Bourgouin
• Its construction project manager, Maxime Héroux
• The Council of project partners, Adamie Delisle Alaku, Silas Watt, Michael Gordon, Patrick Beauchesne, Yannick Larouche-Tremblay, Dave Forrest, and Mary Aitchison
• Its legal advisor, Jean-François Arteau