Country Canada Time zone CST (UTC−6) Area 182.2 km² Elevation 18 m Local time Tuesday 11:41 AM | Canadian Postal code X0C 0A0 Urban area 40 ha Population 2,069 (2016) Area code 867 | |
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Weather -36°C, Wind NW at 23 km/h, 60% Humidity | ||
Baker Lake (Inuktitut syllabics: ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ, big lake joined by a river at both ends, Inuktitut: Qamani'tuaq, where the river widens), is a hamlet in the Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut on mainland Canada. Located 320 km (200 mi) inland from Hudson Bay, it is near the nation's geographical centre, and is notable for being the Canadian Arctic's sole inland community. The hamlet is located at the mouth of the Thelon River on the shore of Baker Lake. The community was given its English name in 1761 from Captain William Christopher who named it after Sir William Baker 11th Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Contents
- Map of Baker Lake NU Canada
- History
- Demographics
- Climate
- Wildlife
- Economy
- Arts and culture
- Government
- Transportation
- Services
- References
Map of Baker Lake, NU, Canada
History
In 1916, the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post at Baker Lake, followed by Anglican missionaries in 1927. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police had been in the area for fifteen years before establishing a post at Baker Lake in 1930. In 1946 the population was 32, of which 25 were Inuit. A small hospital was built in 1957, followed by a regional school the next year.
Videos of elders sharing oral histories have been collected by Inuit students as part of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program.
Demographics
In the 2016 Census, Statistics Canada reported that Baker Lake had a population of 2,069 living in 580 of its 667 total dwellings, an 10.5% increase from its 2011 Census population of 1,872. With a land area of 182.22 km2 (70.36 sq mi), it had a population density of 11.4/km2 (29.4/sq mi) in 2016.
Baker Lake is home to eleven Inuit groups:
Climate
Baker Lake features a subarctic climate, closely bordering a polar climate. Winters run from October/November until April/May with temperatures averaging between −21 and −25 °C (−6 and −13 °F). In contrast to Fairbanks, Alaska on a similar parallel, May is a colder month and June is chilly considering the perpetual daylight. Summers are cool and very short and narrowly go above the 10 °C (50 °F) threshold to not be a polar climate. Under the Nordenskjöld formula for determining polar vs. non-polar climates, however, Baker Lake's climate is polar because with a coldest-month mean of −31.3 °C (−24.3 °F), the warmest-month mean would need be above 12.1 °C (53.8 °F) to keep Baker Lake out of the polar category, and Baker Lake's warmest-month mean is only 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) and the lack of trees at Baker Lake vindicate this judgement.
Wildlife
Baker Lake is host to a variety of wildlife including caribou, muskox, Arctic hares and wolves, wolverines, sik-siks, geese and lake trout among others.
Economy
Many of the town's residents work in the nearby mines. Much of the local infrastructure and logistics-related employment is based around aiding mineral exploration and mining efforts in the wider area. The main source of employment and growth in this sector is Canadian-based mining company Agnico-Eagle Mines, who in 2010 began work at their Meadowbank mine site located 86 km (53 mi) north of Baker Lake. The construction of the mine employed over 1,000 workers, over 30% of them were locals from the general area of the Kivalliq Region. Along with employing local people, the company helped build cellphone towers to get the community connected to Northwestel's cellphone service. The coming of workers from all across Canada also helped developing tourism in this community. There is also potential for a uranium mine, called the Kiggavik Project, which is being proposed by AREVA Resources Canada.
Arts and culture
Baker Lake is known for its Inuit art, such as wallhangings, basalt stone sculptures and stonecut prints. The community has been home to internationally exhibited artists such as Matthew Agigaaq, Elizabeth Angrnaqquaq, Luke Anguhadluq, Barnabus Arnasungaaq, David Ikutaq, Toona Iquliq, Jessie Oonark, Ruth Qaulluaryuk, Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq, Simon Tookoome, Marion Tuu'luq, and Marie Kuunnuaq.
The Jessie Ooonark Arts and Crafts Centre, which opened in 1992, is a work area for the communities artists. It provides space for carving, print making, sewing and jewellery making. It is also home to Jessie Oonark Crafts Ltd. a subsidiary of the Nunavut Development Corporation, a Government of Nunavut crown corporation.
Government
The current mayor of Baker Lake is Joseph Aupaluktuq.
Transportation
The settlement is served by Baker Lake Airport, linking it to the nearby coastal town of Rankin Inlet, about 30 minutes away by air. Calm Air, and First Air serve the town with at least two flights daily. Sundays offer flights to Winnipeg.
As in every community in Nunavut the roads are unpaved and do not connect with any other community in the territory.
Services
Baker Lake has a woman's shelter, health centre (Baker Lake Health Centre), dental clinic, counselling centre, elders' centre, three hotels (Baker Lake Lodge, Iglu Hotel and Nunamiut Lodge), swimming pool, library, primary and secondary school (Rachel Arngnammaktiq Elementary School and Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School), and youth centre.
There are three churches in the community, Anglican (St. Aidan's), Catholic (St. Paul's) and Glad Tidings.. Baker Lake has cellular telephone service, unlike most of the villages in the Kivalliq Region. The community also has an FM radio station (CKQN), local internet service, and cable TV.