ÃÀÓÕÖ±²¥

News & Stories: Nunavut

May 26, 2025

Excerpt: "The Department of Education is pleased to announce the launch of a new online early learning resources section on the Government of Nunavut website. This online section features a wide range of culturally and linguistically appropriate early learning resources already in use at licensed child care centres, now freely accessible to parents, caregivers, the public and community organizations. Several resources were developed in collaboration with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. This new resource section supports early learning at home and in the community, in line with the goals of the Nunavut Early Learning and Child Care Quality Framework. Resources include storybooks, audiobooks, teaching materials, videos, music and tools like the Move your Bodies! physical education video series that can provide fun at home, or skill-building resources such as the Early Learning Pre-Printing Skills Book for early Inuktut printing skills."
February 24, 2025

Excerpt: "For the Department of Education, we also propose $1.07 million to fund teaching positions, and $849,000 to bolster the department’s Human Resource capabilities. We will provide $500,000 to support school bussing services, ensuring reliable transportation for students and making it easier for families to get their children to school on time every day —one of the most important things they can do for their future. We are also allocating $3 million to Education and $1.8 million for the Nunavut Arctic College to fund their IT infrastructure, supporting our students and educators to access modern systems that support learning and innovation."
March 12, 2025

Excerpt: "The Department of Education’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) division is accepting funding proposals aimed at increasing licensed child care spaces across the territory. Over $6 million in federal funding is available to support projects that strengthen access to quality early learning child care for children aged 0-6. This program is already making a significant impact in Nunavut. The newly-expanded Iqaluit Inuktitut daycare Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik in Apex has created 16 additional spaces for children with the support of this program. Additionally, funding has been provided to support the active renovation of the highly-anticipated new licensed child care centre for 20 children in Grise Fiord. The department is committed to creating 238 new licensed child care spaces by March 2026. Since signing the Canada-wide ELCC agreement, Nunavut has created 181 new licensed child care spaces, resulting in a total gain of 104, as some existing spaces are no longer available. Even more spaces are on the way as we continue to expand access for families."
February 28, 2025

Excerpt: "The National School Food Program is a safety net for the kids who need this support the most. Kids in the North, most of whom are Indigenous, face very particular challenges and high food insecurity, and this will help level the playing field and give every child the chance to reach their full potential. As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada will invest approximately $7.6 million over the next three years. This investment will mean necessary upgrades to kitchen facilities, hiring staff, more nutritious meals, and access to traditional foods, such as lingonberries, cloudberries, caribou, salmon, cod – foods that nourish children while keeping cultural connections strong."
February 28, 2025

Excerpt: "Today, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Honourable Jenna Sudds, joined Nunavut Premier the Honourable P.J. Akeeagok, and Nunavut’s Minister of Education the Honourable Pamela Hakongak Gross to celebrate the official opening of the new location and expansion of Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik, Iqaluit’s only Inuktitut daycare. This project received $1.8 million in federal funding through the Canada-Nunavut Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. For 18 years, Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik has offered culture-based early learning and child care in Inuktitut, fostering a strong connection to Inuit culture and language. This new centre allows Tumikuluit Saipaaqivik to open 16 new early learning and child care spaces in their program."
February 25, 2025

Excerpt: "Bill 66 - Early Learning and Child Care Act (Bill 66), was introduced on February 24, 2025, which proposes to replace the Child Day Care Act inherited when Nunavut became a territory. The proposed legislation ensures that Nunavut’s early learning and child care programs are accessible, affordable, inclusive, and rooted in Inuit culture, values and language. This represents a significant step forward in prioritizing the well-being and education of children in Nunavut. Bill 66 also introduces critical updates, including: Improved licensing requirements and duties for operators to enhance safety and accountability; Creation of the Early Learning and Child Care Council, a body to provide guidance and oversight; Expanded accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity for families across the territory; Enhanced support for the well-being of children, caregivers, and educators."
February 25, 2025

Excerpt: "The Department of Education’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) division is increasing the ELCC Wage Scale Program rates by 7.5% starting April 1, 2025 to support recruitment and retention of staff in licensed child care centres. Through federal funding, the ELCC Wage Scale Program provides licensed child care centres serving children ages 0-6 years, the opportunity to ensure fair and competitive wages for their staff. The wage scale applies to four categories of staff: Management; Early Childhood Educators; Program Support; Centre Support."
November 14, 2024

Excerpt: "The workforce is the backbone of licensed child care: they ensure that centres can operate effectively. An enhanced workforce will mean that licensed child care centres are adequately staffed. The Department of Education’s collaboration with Nunavut Arctic College to expand early childhood educator certification will create a skilled workforce that can provide children with high-quality care. Inuit language skills are a workforce priority to promote Inuit language protection and promotion through culturally relevant and responsive care to children."
November 14, 2024

Excerpt: "The Action Plan outlines the steps Education will take between now and 2033 to implement Nunavut’s ELCC Quality Framework, which was released last year. Both of these key documents support high-quality early learning and child care, with a focus on inclusivity, cultural safety, and community collaboration."
May 15, 2024

Excerpt: "That’s why, today, the Governments of Canada and Nunavut announced $10.9 million over four years, with $7.9 million through 2025–2026, to help build more inclusive child care spaces across Nunavut through the Government of Canada’s $625 million Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund. This investment will help Nunavut reach the shared goal of building 238 new child care spaces by 2026."
November 1, 2023

Excerpt: "The purpose of the Strategic Action Plan is to provide guidance and direction on inclusion and equity to all early learning and child care stakeholders in Nunavut for three years from 2023-2026. Its scope includes enhancing inclusion and equity for children with disabilities, children needing enhanced or individual supports, Indigenous – in particular Inuit – children, Black and other racialized children, children in foster care, and official language minority children. This Strategic Action Plan also aims to ensure that vulnerable children and children from diverse backgrounds have access to licensed child care spaces. To achieve this, the Government of Nunavut is committed to work together with all partners and stakeholders, while also taking a leadership role in its sphere of responsibility."
June 1, 2023

Excerpt: "The aim of the Nunavut Early Learning and Child Care Quality Framework is to present a clear and accessible vision for ELCC in Nunavut that supports the development and delivery of ELCC programs and services across the territory. Whether this takes place in the home, child care settings, community-based programs, or parenting centres in remote or urban communities, all ELCC programs developed and delivered in Nunavut should align with the vision and guiding principles presented in this framework."