Qikiqtarjuaq Research Centre

We are happy to announce the completion of the first stage of the community scuba diving training program in Qikiqtarjuaq! We are incredibly proud of the Qik dive team; congratulations to Jacob Qappik, Aiden Nutaralak, Henry Nookiguak, Robbie Kullualik, and Sammy Qappik for completing the course. A special thank you to Sammy for his invaluable support with the instruction. Qujannamiik to all participants, partners, and community members who made this possible - we can't wait to get in the water all together in September! 🌊🤿💙

TRAINING & HIRING Fresh Water Samplers,
we are extending the deadline to this coming Thursday June 11.
Training will start June 15-20.
Please contact me if you are interested

Reminder to those that have registered to the scuba dive training program, we are starting today at 1pm at the research centre. Qainiaqusit, taikkua register-lauqtuit

Dive Training Information Session at the research centre on Thursday, June 4 , 2026 at 7pm

Please come to the Research Centre this coming Thursday to get more information about the dive training that will take place next week.

Qujannamiik!

**CHANGE OF TIME **Open House will now be held from 3-5pm

The QRC is launching a community-based program to monitor drinking water quality.

The program's goal is to determine whether the lakes and streams where water is collected are safe for drinking.
A pilot project will start in June, local monitors will be trained in water sampling. Youth are encouraged to apply for training! Learn more about the project, employment and training opportunities and our partner ArctiConnexion at our open house.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Interested in SCUBA diving?
ᐊᖅᑲᐅᒪᖃᑦᑕᕈᒪᕖᑦ?

Université Laval and the Qikiqtarjuaq Research Center are launching a community dive training program starting this year in Qikiqtarjuaq.

Training program :

Step 1 – Dive theory, June 8–11 (afternoons) at the Research Centre

Step 2 – Open-water practice, 3–4 days in late August in the water around Qikiqtarjuaq (dates TBC soon and schedule depend on weather)

Step 3 – First Aid & Rescue training, 4–5 days between September 2–9 at the Research Centre and in the water (schedule depends on weather)

Criteria
ü Be over 17 years old (open to all)
ü Be in good health (no pulmonary or cardiac disease, no recent internal surgery)
ü Can swim (just the basics)
ü Be available to complete the training (3 steps)
ü Comfortable working in a team
ü Demonstrate attention to safety
ü Priority given to individuals interested in future diving work opportunities

What’s provided
• Learning materials
• Full dive equipment
• Snacks

Want to join or get more infos?
Contact: [email protected]
Or speak with Laila Alookie at the Research Center

qujannamiik, ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦ

Today, the Centre is hosting the second part of the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program workshop! Around 15 members from the Hamlet and HTA, along with more than 40 scientists from institutions across Canada, have gathered to learn about the research projects carried out in the Qikiqtarjuaq region.

Launched in 2023, the program collects environmental data to better understand marine ecosystems and detect changes over time. In 2025, 19 research projects contributed new data to this initiative, strengthening collaboration between community members and scientists working together to support Arctic coastal environments. Here are a few examples of the work accomplished 🔬🧪

“Ullukkut Qikiqtarjuaq,



Our names are Pascale Bouchard and Mathilde Guillaume, and we work for the Univ of Manitoba. This field was in continuation of the last 2 years field campaigns I have done (one in August 2024 and one in Spring 2025) and it is in collaboration with DFO on the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program in Qikiqtarjuaq.

The main objective of this field was to deploy a mooring, which is composed by different instruments. This specific mooring was composed with instruments measuring the depth and temperature, the fluorescence, and the light into the water. The dataset will help us to link the amount of light through the water column and the amount of algae during sea ice cover and open water. Why we would like to do that ? Because one of the main resources for algae growth is the light!



The mooring was deployed near the invisible polynya (Invisible polynya are areas of strong currents, thin ice, and potentially high biological productivity) near Massajuaq island. The mooring will be retrieved this summer during the open water season.



We would like to thanks the QRC team for their kindness during our stay and our guides (Gordi, Noah and Jimmy) who help us a lot during the different days we went on ice.

Notice to All,

The research centre has a new email address due to a correction in spelling.

The updated email is [email protected] and the old email: [email protected] should no longer be used.