Rankin Inlet

Rankin Inlet (Inuktitut: Kangiqiniq or ᑲᖏᕿᓂᖅ, meaning deep bay), is an active community of 2,800 people (2016) in mainland Nunavut. It is a government village and an air transport hub for travel between Nunavut and the centre and west of Canada.

Understand
The community of Rankin Inlet was formed next to a nickel mine in 1959, which employed most of the town's people. Rankin Inlet is well known for its strong winds in winter.

The town is the second largest community in Nunavut and before 1999, Rankin was a regional centre for the Northwest Territories government. After the signing of the accord which separated Nunavut from the Northwest Territories, Rankin Inlet became principally a political centre of the territorial claims. It is again growing rapidly and serves as a hub for countless companies and organisations.

With the development of a new gold mine and the opening of a correctional facility, the community is growing fast. Rankin hosts a wide range of recreational facilities like arenas for hockey and curling, a turf baseball diamond, and courts for volleyball, basketball, soccer and badminton. The community also boasts a football ground, an 18-hole golf course and playgrounds for children.

Rankin Inlet does not have any alcohol restrictions and alcohol can be imported for personal use.

By plane
There are no roads to Rankin Inlet that connect to the rest of Canada.

Airport

 * Flights to Rankin Inlet from Iqaluit (2 hours), Winnipeg (2.5 hours), and Yellowknife (2 hours).
 * Flights to Rankin Inlet from Iqaluit (2 hours), Winnipeg (2.5 hours), and Yellowknife (2 hours).

Get around
Rankin Inlet is very small, so one could reasonably get around by foot.

Do
The midnight sun adds a magical element to travel in the Arctic! Rankin Inlet doesn't have 24-hour sunny days, but winter is the time of darkness. Light starts to disappear mid-October and usually does not rise again until Christmas. There are only about four hours of twilight during this time, but the light starts to return in January.

A visit in autumn or winter gives you a chance to see one of Earth's most spectacular phenomena – the Aurora Borealis. They can be easily seen from October to March in the centre of the community, but by taking a walk out of the town, they can be more spectacular. Inuit people have many legends about the auroras, which can be heard by talking to people in Rankin.

A walk five minutes outside the community will give you the opportunity to see terrain which appears untouched by humans. You will most likely discover the siksiit. Spring and summer brings squirrels, which are everywhere, chattering incessantly from their perches, as do peregrine falcons and gyrfalcons. Keep a watchful eye on the area to see loons, geese, swans and cranes, which will keep photographers busy.



Hockey forms part of the Rankin Inlet community. Rankin is particularly involved since it is the hometown of hockey player Jordin Tootoo (of the NHL Detroit Red Wings). In addition, there are major hockey tournaments held in the community each year. In April the annual Pakallak Time festival is held, offering outdoor games and competitions, dog sled racing and snowmobile racing. May hosts the annual fishing tournament that attracts people from other communities. July 9 is Nunavut Day which is celebrated with pride throughout the territory. In autumn, the community usually hosts the annual trade show for Kivalliq Region inviting companies from all seven communities in the region.

During the holidays there are organized events, including snow sculptures, games, talent shows, concerts, craft sales, pageants, dog sled races and snowmobiling. Traditional sports like "one foot high kick," "two foot high kick," "arm pull," "knuckle hop", "head sweater", "airplane" and others are still practiced in the community and are presented at many events throughout the year.

Buy
There are many shops in Rankin which sell the work of local artisans and artists. Matchbox Gallery represents highly qualified artists who produce beautiful ceramic sculptures and carvings of stone, bone and antler, wall hangings, paintings and original prints. The work of many of these artists can be seen at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

Ivalu represents small businesses in many Inuit communities in Nunavut. Here you will find sealskin clothing, knitted hats and vests, sculptures, jewellery and meat products.

Andy's Airport Gift Shop also offers original art pieces, jewellery, pottery, and clothing. The Co-op store and Kissarvik Siniktarvik Hotel shop sell sculptures and crafts.



Drink
Bars and other nightlife are practically nonexistent in Nunavut, where alcoholism is a problem for many inhabitants. These restrictions are so strongly applied that the police search the bags of people entering the territory. All alcohol entering dry communities is rapidly confiscated. Rankin Inlet is one of the rare places outside Iqaluit where alcohol can be legally served. Two main bars - and hotels - in Rankin are authorised to sell alcohol within their premises: Siniktarvik Hotel and the Nanuq Inn, whose license is limited to guests.

Internet

 * High-speed wireless internet is available in all parts of the community, and providers include Netkaster, NorthwesTel and Qiniq (available in every community).
 * Only mobile phones from Bell work well in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.

Radio

 * CHAR-FM (92.7 FM) – James Sandy
 * VF2410 (97.9 FM) – Municipality of Rankin Inlet
 * CBQR-FM (105.1 FM) – CBC North – public news/talk

Newspaper

 * Kivalliq News – published every Wednesday, $1.00.

Go next

 * Iqaluit
 * Gjoa Haven
 * Yellowknife