Rankin Inlet

Overview

The regional centre of Nunavut’s Kivalliq region, Rankin Inlet has a population of approximately 2,975 people (2021 census), making it the territory’s second-largest community after Iqaluit.

Rankin Inlet is part of the Central time zone along with Saskatchewan and Manitoba. You can get there via a direct flight from Winnipeg that takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes, operated by Canadian North.

Highlights

Rankin Inlet is known as ‘Kangiqtiniq’ in Inuktitut, which means ‘deep inlet.’ The community is famous because the first Inuk athlete to ever play professional hockey in the NHL grew up here — Jordin Tootoo — a right winger, player number 22 (‘too too’) with the Nashville Predators. Rankin Inlet is also well known for its artworks, especially Inuit ceramic arts.

In 2022, Jose Kusugak of  Rankin Inlet was honoured with a postage stamp including a portrait of Kusugak and his name written in Inuktitut. He played a pivotal role in Nunavut’s creation. Kusugak became the first recipient of the Order of Nunavut in 2011 when he received the distinction posthumously.

Weather and landscape

Rankin Inlet is located between the 62nd and 63rd parallels and has a subarctic climate. In 2023, the shortest day was December 21 with 4 hours and 48 minutes of daylight; the longest day was June 20 with 20 hours and 12 minutes of daylight.

The sea ice in the area freezes over in October and breakup occurs in mid-July. There can be rain or fog during the spring and fall months. Winter temperatures, with wind-chill, can fall to -50°C. High winds, blizzards and ice fogs are frequent. Summer temperatures average about 10°C.

The community is nestled in rolling hills with flat areas and intricate rock formations. It has tundra valleys filled with tiny wildflowers in the summertime and wind-sculpted snowdrifts in the winter.