The Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) is a signature deliverable of the Government's integrated Northern Strategy. The Station, to be built in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, is being designed as a year-round, multidisciplinary research facility on the cutting edge of resource development and environmental issues in the Arctic.
The Plateau site in Cambridge Bay has been selected as the location of the Station, which is anticipated to open in July 2017 to coincide with Canada's 150th anniversary.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) is the lead department for the development and implementation of CHARS. AANDC is working closely with Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) on infrastructure development, project management, procurement and real estate services for the project.
Three primary criteria were used to evaluate the Plateau site selection. These criteria relate to CHARS' mission to be a world-class research station that is on the cutting edge of Arctic issues. They include:
- Site constraints and services
- access to infrastructure resources that will support the science and technology program, including access to piped sea and potable water;
- whether the size and orientation of the lot supports future expansion and provides an opportunity for CHARS to be a model of Arctic development;
- Community integration
- how the site would support opportunities for community involvement in CHARS' activities by making the Station accessible to local residents;
- whether the site would have a positive impact on the development of the community;
- whether the Station can leverage existing and planned community infrastructure; and
- Science and technology public programming opportunities
- accessibility to a range of ecosystems that can be used to present examples of different kinds of research and monitoring to the public, including opportunities to develop demonstrations of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems; social science; traditional knowledge; and technology development.
The Plateau site has a large buildable area, thereby facilitating different architectural approaches and future expansion. Although not connected to the potable water pipeline, it is close enough that a pipeline expansion could be envisaged in order to access piped potable water. Its proximity to the shore could allow use of piped seawater to support aquatics research at the Station.
This site has excellent potential for community integration opportunities. It is approximately 600 m to the town core, including the Health Centre and elementary and high schools. There is easy road access to the Elder's Palace to the south and to the dock. To the west lies the Nunavut Arctic College dormitory and planned Mine Training Centre. Foot bridges could be built to traverse the wetlands to the south and west, enhancing both community integration and Science & Technology monitoring opportunities.
The road links the Hamlet to traditional activities on the land and to Mount Pelly, making it well travelled. Building CHARS on this site would make it part of the gateway into and out of the community.
The Plateau site provides opportunities for monitoring and research demonstration projects due to its proximity to a range of largely undisturbed tundra, wetland, riparian (i.e., the interface between land and a river or stream), and a freshwater ecosystem.
In addition, the site was also evaluated according to three secondary criteria:
- Ease of securing
- whether the site can be secured through a lease or purchase agreement;
- Geotechnical analysis
- whether depth to the bedrock requires significant and costly foundational work; and
- Aesthetics
- whether the site presents an appealing landscape with good sight lines to the community, the bay and / or the Arctic tundra landscape.
