Kuujjuaq (Qc.) August 25, 2025 – Kativik Ilisarniliriniq is proud to announce the official inauguration of the Kajusivik Student Residence, taking place on August 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Kuujjuaq. All residents of Kuujjuaq are warmly invited to attend this important community event.

The inauguration ceremony will include opening remarks, a ribbon-cutting, and guided tours of the new facility. Informational kiosks about Adult Education and Vocational Training (AEVT) programs will also be available.

The new student residence is a major step forward in supporting Inuit who wish to pursue their education closer to home. With a capacity to accommodate up to 84 individuals—including families and single parents—the building is designed to meet the diverse needs of adult learners in the region. It features modern living spaces, shared areas for study and cultural activities, a daycare, a gym, and more.

We are happy that collaboration with three Nunavik artists, Sammy Kudluk, Ulaayu Pilurtuut and Nancy Saunders has allowed for the integration of artwork to the building’s architecture. Artwork from Kudluk can be seen outside the residence, at the entrance. Artworks from Saunders and Pilurtuut were integrated into the main common area, indoors.

While the Kajusivik Student Residence is now complete, the construction of a new Kajusivik AEVT Centre is currently being planned. The project is currently in the design and planning phase, with construction expected to begin in the near future.

Meanwhile, the centre operates out of temporary facilities, constructed in 2023. This interim building has already allowed the Centre to increase its capacity and better serve the growing number of adult learners in Kuujjuaq and Nunavik.

An additional project for the construction of new workshop spaces will also be submitted this fall to the MEQ for approval and funding confirmation. This final phase would further enhance the Kajusivik AEVT Centre’s ability to deliver hands-on vocational training. These infrastructures are part of a broader vision to expand access to post-secondary education in Nunavik. The recent launch of a Certificate in Education for First Nations and Inuit (CEFNI) in partnership with McGill University is a testament to this vision. Without the new student residence, many of the program’s participants—who are not residents of Kuujjuaq—would not have been able to enroll.

This project was funded through the Quebec Ministry of Education. We are grateful for the support of the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications in facilitating the application of the Politique d’intégration des arts à l’architecture et à l’environnement des bâtiments et des sites gouvernementaux et publics during this construction project.

Event Details:
📍 Kajusivik Student Residence, Kuujjuaq
📅 August 26, 2025
🕑 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Order of Ceremony:

• 2:00 PM – Guest Arrival & Light Refreshments
• 2:30 PM – Opening Words and Speeches
• 3:15 PM – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
• 3:30 PM – Open House, Guided Tours & information booths

About us:

Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the school board of Nunavik, was created in 1975 under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). Since 1978, it has been the exclusive provider of educational services to all Nunavik residents. Under the JBNQA, the school board also acts as an institution with unique powers and jurisdiction geared towards the protection and development of the Inuit language, culture and way of life through the delivery of tailored educational services and programs. The education programs developed by the school board are offered in all schools of the 14 Nunavik communities, in Inuktitut as first language and in French and English as second languages. The school board operates 18 primary and secondary schools, as well as 6 adult education centres. For more information, visit kativik.qc.ca.

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For information, please contact:

Jade Duchesneau-Bernier
Communications Coordinator
514 797-8220 or 1 800 361-2244 ext. 309
publicrelations@kativik.qc.ca