Canadian High Arctic Research Station now fully managed and operated in the North
News release
June 7, 2023, Cambridge Bay, NU - Polar Knowledge Canada is now the official custodian of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. The state-of-the-art research facility, previously held by Crown-Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, is now managed and operated in the North.
POLAR Knowledge Canada builds and maintains partnerships beyond disciplines and borders, to support meaningful inclusion of Indigenous traditional knowledge and local knowledge in research, and to synthesize and share information to advance polar research for the benefit of all Canadians.
Built to optimize innovation in Arctic science and technology in collaboration with Indigenous knowledge holders, CHARS provides researchers with accommodations and a wide range of technical services for their research needs—from ecosystem monitoring to DNA analysis. In the North, this means the development of evidence-based policies to address the effects of climate change.
CHARS has been welcoming visitors officially since 2019. Its design and construction are a result of close cooperation with community members, researchers, governments, organizations, and businesses in Cambridge Bay and across the North and Arctic.
Quotes
“It is the tireless effort of the people—the advisors, advocates, and collaborators—from across Nunavut, the Arctic and Cambridge Bay that we can thank for the establishment of the Canadian High Arctic Station (CHARS). POLAR Knowledge Canada is a leader in how the Government of Canada approaches research, policy development, and governance in the spirit of reconciliation by recognizing Indigenous Peoples as equal partners with legitimate authority, included in all aspects of decision-making on research undertaken in their communities and on their land.”
– Hon. Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs
“CHARS is now firmly rooted in the North—and much of the research at this remarkable facility addresses concerns identified by northern communities. Community perspectives, expertise, and participation are integral to our approach. Real benefits follow when scientists and Indigenous communities share knowledge and come together to solve a problem in a spirit of mutual respect.”
– Jennifer C. Hubbard, President and Chief Executive Officer, Polar Knowledge Canada
Quick facts
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Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) is a Government of Canada agency responsible for strengthening Canadian leadership in polar science and technology. It is headquartered at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), which it operates, in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.
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The Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, provides a world-class hub for science and technology in Canada’s North and is a major node in the network of national and international research infrastructure across the circumpolar North.
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POLAR undertakes and supports a wide variety of research at CHARS, much of it in collaboration with Indigenous knowledge holders. Examples include baseline environmental research; testing the performance of clean energy technologies in the Arctic to help northern communities reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, and understanding emerging diseases affecting caribou and muskoxen that threaten the sustainability of these food species.
Associated links
Contacts
Polar Knowledge Canada
Email: communications@polar.gc.ca
Telephone: 343-548-5456
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