Rene Aggark has been making monthly trips out of Nunavut for over nine years to seek medical care for his daughter. Their journey starts from their home in Arviat, then progresses through Rankin Inlet before heading south to Winnipeg where his daughter, Saittuq, receives treatment for her physical disability.
The travel day is typically long, with a stopover in Rankin Inlet that often leaves them waiting for hours. Unlike Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet lacks a medical boarding home, forcing many travelers to endure extended waits at the airport terminal.
Aggark described the waiting experience as exhausting and mentally and physically taxing, as they often have nowhere else to go. The airport terminal in Rankin Inlet has a small waiting area with limited and uncomfortable seating, along with restricted food options that do not suit Saittuq’s preferences.
The prospect of a new airport terminal in Rankin Inlet offers hope for improved travel conditions. The planned terminal, expected to be approximately 40,000 square feet in size, is set to be three times larger than the current facility, providing more seating and food choices.
Heather Grant from the government of Nunavut’s transportation and infrastructure division stated in an email that the new terminal will accommodate 200 individuals. The first phase of the construction project is slated for completion this year, after facing delays that pushed back the original 2023 opening date.
Aggark expressed optimism that the new terminal will offer a more comfortable waiting environment. However, he emphasized a preference for a boarding home in Rankin Inlet, providing a better accommodation option for his daughter during their medical travels to Winnipeg.