Pangnirtung Profile

Pangnirtung (or Panniqtuuq) means “the place of the bull caribou.”

The Hamlet of Pangnirtung is located on Baffin Island’s eastern shore, in the Qikiqtaalut (Baffin) Region of Nunavut. Kitikmeot and Kivalliq are the other two regions in the territory. It’s crazy to think of how big Canada really is. When I was still debating whether I should take this job or not I looked at Pang on Google Maps like a million times. The fact that I’m still in Canada but closer to Greenland than to Edmonton right now is amazing (click on the pictures to see a bigger version)!

Baffin Region

Pang Map

According to Stats Canada Pang’s population in 2016 was 1,481. By comparison, in the 2016-2017 school year U of A had a total of 38,311 students! Most of the population in the community is Inuit. Although, so far, I have met people from France, Iran, Germany, America and also heard about an elderly Indian couple living in town.

There are no roads leading to Pang – the only way in or out is by plane. Canadian North and First Air have regular flights to the community. The airport is located right in the middle of the hamlet with only a road between the fenced off airport runway and the high school. I pass it every day on my way to work and it’s really something to see planes landing so close to you! I can see them from my bedroom window too.

There are three places to buy food and other supplies in the community: The Northern Store, Arctic Co-op and the convenience store (or C-Store as the locals call it). The Co-op has a tiny coffee corner inside of it, and Northern has a KFC.

Like in many other small, northern communities no one wears seatbelts here! I still reach for it whenever I get into a car and it feels weird but strangely kind of fun not to wear one. Speaking of cars, everyone seems to borrow everyone’s cars all the time which is really nice if you think about it. They also always offer rides to people. It’s like an informal community wide car/ride sharing program.

Everyone also says hello to me wherever I go. Kids playing outside or walking down the street always wave and say hi and ask me my name (not just little kids but high schoolers too). Adults also say hi, wave, and ask how I’m doing. It’s a really welcoming place!