2015-2016 POLAR funded projects list

POLAR has funded national workshops and science and technology, knowledge management, and capacity projects, as a result of its initial funding process.

(PDF Versions, Part 1, Part 2)


Capacity building
National Workshops
Knowledge Management
Science and Technology
Capcity Building

Capacity building

Project Details Contact

Core funding for Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS)

ACUNS promotes the advancement of northern studies through scholarships, conferences and collaboration.

Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies

George Hobson Memorial Award, Malcolm Ramsay Memorial Award, Robert McGhee Award, Éric Dewailly Memorial Award

Awards to outstanding Northern Scientific Training Program recipients. These awards are named for distinguished arctic researchers in the natural and social sciences. Polar Knowledge Canada

Polar Knowledge Canada Scholarship

Awarded to an outstanding doctoral student.

Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies

Science camps in the North

Science Camps run by ACTUA engaged youth from the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)

ACTUA

Polar Inspiration Grants

This Students on Ice project supports initiatives led by their alumni that benefit a community, area or region in the Canadian Arctic.

Students on Ice

Nunavut Arctic College Environmental Technology Program

Support for the Nunavut Arctic College Environmental Technology Program in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut

Nunavut Arctic College


Knowledge Management

Project Details Contact

University of Waterloo, Polar Data Catalogue

Data management services for POLAR’s Science and Technology program.

Polar Knowledge Canada
Arctic Inspiration Prize Participation in Arctic Inspiration Prize, which honours substantial contributions to Arctic research and the transformation from knowledge to action. Arctic Inspiration Prize
Guidebook for Research with Nunavut Communities, Cambridge Bay Edition

Development of a guide that provides Inuit and northern cultural context for researchers working in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.

Kitikmeot Heritage Society

Northern Science Award 2015

The Northern Science Award honours a meritorious contribution to northern science, in the spirit of knowledge to action.

Polar Knowledge Canada

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)

Polar Knowledge Canada support to SDTC Call for Proposals for Clean Technology.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada

Pembina Institute

Polar Knowledge Canada and Pembina Renewable Microgrids Conference.

Polar Knowledge Canada

Canadian Network of Northern Research Operators (CNNRO)

Development of a strategic plan for CNNRO.

Canadian Network of Northern Research Operators

The Polar Blog

In partnership with Canadian Geographic Magazine, series of short articles highlighting Canadian polar research.

Polar Knowledge Canada



National Workshops

Workshop Details Contact
Ocean Science in the Arctic Workshop (January 21, 2016, Ottawa, Ontario)

Workshop held in partnership with the University of Victoria and Ocean Networks Canada to identify key areas to advance the study of the ocean/climate nexus and enhance collaboration.

Polar Knowledge Canada

Collaborative Action on Northern Housing Infrastructure (February 25, 2016, Ottawa, Ontario)

Workshop held in partnership with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, National Research Council, and Natural Resources Canada to address northern housing challenges.

Polar Knowledge Canada

Canadian Antarctic Research Workshop (October 3-4, Ottawa, Ontario)

Workshop to explore opportunities to strengthen Canadian Antarctic research activities and provide a better understanding of the Antarctic, global systems, and polar linkages.

Polar Knowledge Canada


Science and Technology

Strategic Priority: Baseline information to prepare for northern sustainability
Project Details Contact
Monitoring of small mammals and their predators in the Canadian Arctic Using small mammals and their predators to track vital ecosystem components and evaluate the effects of factors like changing snow conditions or local resource development. Gilles Gauthier, Departement de biologie et Centre d’études Nordiques, Universite Laval
Baker Lake Aquatic Cumulative Effects Monitoring Program - Phase 1 Methods Development Establishing the methods for long-term watershed monitoring in Baker Lake, Nunavut, to gauge the cumulative effects of further mining activities combined with potential effects of climate change. Luis Manzo, Kivalliq Inuit Association
Health of Fisheries Resources (Arctic Char) in the Lower Coppermine River Collecting life history data from Arctic char, collecting biological samples for analyses of heavy-metal contaminants collecting water quality samples from the Lower Coppermine River. Cam Stevens and Barb Adjun, Golder Associates Ltd. and Angonatit Niovikuia Ltd. (Kugluktuk)
Enabling Community Well-Being, Self- Monitoring for Yukon First Nations Using social determinants of health to assess the impact of a potential mining project in the Dawson Range (Yukon) on Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation and nearby communities. Ben Bradshaw, Department of Geography, University of Guelph
Shrub Monitoring in Canada’s Arctic Improving methods for monitoring and analysing changes in shrub cover in the Mackenzie Delta, and in the area affected by the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway. Joe Acorn, Environmental Management – Stantec
Monitoring Land Surface and Permafrost Conditions along the Inuvik- Tuktoyaktuk Highway Corridor Developing baseline maps of the corridor and monitoring the changes of land cover and drainage conditions using satellite images, aerial photos, and field observations. Yu Zhang, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Canada,
Geoscience Tools for Supporting Environmental Risk Assessment of Metal Mining Assessing the cumulative effects of 
natural and human-driven changes, on the transport and fate of metals and health of regional ecosystems in areas of high resource potential in the Canadian North. Jennifer Galloway, Geological Survey of Canada
Bathurst Caribou Range Plan Using traditional, local and scientific knowledge to develop a Bathurst Caribou Range Plan, working collaboratively with Territorial Governments, Aboriginal Governments and Organizations, the industrial sector and public organizations. Karin Clark, Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories
Community-based monitoring for aquatic invasive species in the Canadian Arctic—prepar- ing for increased shipping Developing community-based monitoring that will allow for early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and characterization of baseline coastal marine biodiversity. Kimberley Howland, Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, Central & Arctic
Resource development, marine shipping and Arctic wildlife: a model of public-private partnership to address potential environmental impacts To inventory and predict seabird and fish use of marine sites relevant to proposed shipping routes in Hudson Strait and north Baffin Island. Grant Gilchrist, Research Scientist, National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Biological indicators to monitor aquatic ecosystem health in NWT communities Using biofilms and zooplankton to assess the impacts of resource development, municipal wastewater, and climate change on freshwater environments near NWT communities. Erin Kelly, Environment and Natural Resources Government of the Northwest Territories
Fire in the Arctic: The interactive effects of landscape, hydrology, and permafrost change on aquatic ecosystem health Tracking the effects of fire, a natural process increasing in the north, on aquatic ecosystems. The work is work will be based from two established NWT monitoring sites. Suzanne Tank, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta

Cryosphere, vegetation, and freshwater monitoring in the western Canadian Arctic

Documenting the state of the cryosphere, vegetation, and freshwater using field observations from long term research and remote sensing. Philip Marsh, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfred Laurier University
Community-Based Monitoring Projects to Contribute to Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring Assessments Using community-based monitoring and traditional knowledge to produce baseline information for evaluating and tracking impacts of climate change on human and ecological systems. Eva Kruemmel, Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada
Community-Led Environment & Health Surveillance for Adaptation Developing a community-based environment-health surveillance and response system in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut; and a systematic and standardized survey on environment health outcomes. Sherilee Harper, Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Tłı̨chǫ Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring Program Conducting community-based contaminants-related research, including the collection of fish, water, and sediment samples, and observations using both Tłı̨chǫ and scientific knowledge to address the question: “Are the fish safe to eat and is the water safe to drink?” Jody Pellissey, Wek’èezhìı Renewable Resources Board
Consolidating the State of Knowledge on Caribou Health to Enable Tracking of Trends in a World Under Change Baseline research on pathogen prevalence and stress levels in order to track changes overtime and evaluate impacts of environmental change on caribou health. Susan Kutz, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary
Nearshore Ecological Survey (NES) Documenting different nearshore ecosystems, habitats and marine life around Cambridge Bay, and generating Jeremy Heywood, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
Kitikmeot Region Marine Science Study

Multi-disciplinary, integrated oceanographic exploration of Coronation Gulf, Queen Maud Gulf and Chantrey Inlet area to provide a baseline description of its geochemistry, biology and physical oceanography.

Adrian Schimnowski, Arctic Research Foundation
Churchill Marine Observatory

Collection of ecological data at a variety of near-shore locations and shipping lanes in the Churchill River estuary, Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait.

David Barber, Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba

Strategic Priority: Predicting the impacts of changing ice, permafrost, and snow on shipping, infrastructure and communities

Project Details Contact
Environmental Monitoring Through Science Outreach Training northern students to monitor water quality and sea ice break-up. Rick Armstrong,  Nunavut Research Institute
Safe Passage: Sea-Ice Research for Arctic Resource Development and Northern Communities Improving understanding of coastal sea-ice processes critical to Arctic transportation using existing coastal observation and modelling programs. The data and model improvements will be linked to the Canadian Ice Service for broad access. Richard Dewey, Ocean Networks Canada
SmartICE Pond Inlet: a sea ice information service to support local decision-making Improving sea-ice information and improved forecasting services for Pond Inlet. It builds on a prototype monitoring system developed for coastal Labrador communities. The project deploys in-situ and mobile sea-ice thickness sensors in areas where Inuit travel and the ice is known to be dangerous. Trevor Bell, Department of Geography, Memorial University  of Newfoundland
Hydrological and water quality monitoring, research and training in the Apex River watershed, Iqaluit, Nunavut Understanding and predicting of the freshwater supply in the Apex River, under consideration as a supplementary source of drinking water for Iqaluit. Murray Richardson, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University

Strategic Priority: Alternative and renewable energy for the North

Project Details Contact
Whati Biomass District Heating System Biomass District Heating System, which will provide wood pellet heat to four community buildings, reducing the community’s heating oil consumption and carbon footprint. Lisa Nitsiza, Community Government of Whati
Sanikiluaq Wind Energy Project Wind monitoring tower to assess the local wind resource prior to future wind farm development on the site. Sheldon Nimchuk, Qikitaaluk Business Development Corporation and Sanikiluaq Development Corporation
Inuvialuit Regional Corporate Centre Renewable Energy Project Wind monitoring tower to assess the local wind resource prior to future wind farm development on the site. Jiri Raska, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization Renewable Energy Project Solar demonstration project on the community freezer that includes a training program to enable Inuvialuit to learn about solar installation for off-grid camps. Jiri Raska,  Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization

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