The Arctic capital that was once a strategic military outpost
Long before it became the capital of Nunavut, Iqaluit was a vital piece of wartime infrastructure. Known then as Frobisher Bay, this isolated community transformed from a traditional fishing site into a high-stakes military hub during the Second World War.
For thousands of years, the area now known as Iqaluit served as a vital fishing location for the Inuit and their predecessors, including the Thule and the Paleo-Eskimo Dorset culture. The name itself, derived from Inuktitut, translates to 'place of many fish'. However, the mid-20th century brought a sudden, non-Indigenous influx to the region. In 1942, the United States Army Air Forces established the Frobisher Bay Air Base on a long-term lease from Canada. This base, featuring the wartime airstrip known as Crystal Two, served as a critical refuelling stop for aircraft being ferried to Europe during World War II.
The mid-1950s saw further expansion driven by the construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line, a defensive radar system. This period brought hundreds of military personnel and construction workers to the area. While the American military eventually departed in 1963 as intercontinental ballistic missiles reduced the strategic necessity of Arctic airbases, the Canadian government maintained the site as a logistical centre. This era also saw the establishment of permanent services, including schools and healthcare, which encouraged more Inuit to settle in the community.
The identity of the city has undergone significant shifts. For decades, the municipality was known as Frobisher Bay, a name used by authorities after the 16th-century explorer Martin Frobisher. It was not until 1987 that the traditional Inuktitut name, Iqaluit, was officially restored. Following the division of the Northwest Territories, Iqaluit was designated the capital of the new territory of Nunavut in 1999. Today, despite being the lowest-population capital in Canada, it remains a vital northern hub, even hosting international events like the G7 finance ministers' meeting in 2010.
Source: Iqaluit
