Fire consumes arena, circus and performing arts space in Igloolik, Nunavut | CBC News (2025)

Emma Tranter · CBC News

· Posted: Feb 12, 2025 2:18 PM EST | Last Updated: February 12

A fire has destroyed the arenain Igloolik, Nunavut, along with an important community hubthat houses a local circus and performing arts space.

The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, said George Qaunaq, the community's chief administrative officer. It engulfed the Kipsigak Arena which is also home toArtcirq'sBlack Box, where it runs its circus and community programing.

The building can't be saved and will need to be demolished, Qaunaq said.

"The whole building is going to have come down," he said.

He said the fire started sometime in the night, but the cause is still unknown.

Smoke could still be seen billowing from the building on Wednesday evening.Earlier in the day, the smoke spread throughout the community, shutting down schools and closing the health centre.

The hamlet has created a warming centre to support people displaced from their homes because of the smoke, the Nunavut government's Department of Community and Government Servicessaid in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

Two members of the Igloolik fire department were also brought to the health centre to be treated for smoke inhalation, the, the department said.

It also said that as of Wednesday afternoon, the fire was "under control," but still burning. Iqaluit also arranged for four firefighters to be sent to the community, but they were grounded because of a blizzard.

A space 'filled with love' for youth to gather, lost

GuillaumeSaladin is the co-founder of Artcirq, a performingarts collective formed in Igloolik in 1998. Its members have travelled the world and created a safe space in the community for youth to gather.

Saladin said he received a call at 3 a.m. from people who workat Artcirqsaying that theirbuildingwas on fire.

"We have a wall with all the flags, all the countries we travelled to overthe years," Saladin said."And I was picturing this wall of flags burning. And I was just crying."

"Everyone is so sad."

Saladin said he's still in disbelief that everything is lost.

"It's the last 20 years,and the energy they've put into making a safe space for young people to express themselves," he said.

Seven people from Igloolik work at the Black Box full-time, Saladin said.

"It was their job to keep that place safe and open every day" he said.

The Black Box ran workshops for young people every weekday, along with its circus and Inuit games. It was also a spacefor musicians to gather, complete with lighting and a sound system.

Despite the devastation, Saladin said he and his colleagues at Artcirq will look to rebuild.

"Artcirq is not a place, it's the people. So that's the good news. Artcirq is still there," hesaid. "Oncethis fire is all gonewe have to take time to rebuild and make it better than it was before."

Saladin said he also hopes others step up to help.

"Share the pain and then find solutions I really hopethat the hamlet council, the federal government, that many people, gather together," he said.

"So many people have been part of this. It's really a unique space, it's filled with love."

Qaunaq said the loss of the Black Box, along with the arena, is going to felt throughout Igloolik and beyond.

"It is devastating for the community," Qaunaq said.

The fire is now being investigated by the Nunavut Fire Marshal's office and the RCMP.

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