10 October 2024
October 10, 2024
Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, was selected by West Kitikmeot Resources Ltd. (WKR) to continue advancing the engineering and environmental consulting services for the Grays Bay Road and Port Project in Nunavut, Canada. The project will allow direct access to the Northwest Passage and bring economic benefits to the North. WKR signed memorandums of understanding with the Government of Nunavut and the Canadian Infrastructure Bank to provide additional financial support for the Grays Bay Road and Port Project.
When complete, the Grays Bay Road and Port Project will aim to create a nationally significant northern trade corridor, aiding Inuit and Canadian sovereignty and offering new opportunities by unlocking Canada’s critical minerals wealth and supporting the northern economy.
The project will connect a deepwater port in the center of the Northwest Passage via an all-season road to Contwoyto Lake—the northern terminus of the Tibbit-to-Contwoyto Winter Road. When complete, the project will provide road access from southern Canada to the Coronation Gulf. This access will dramatically lower the cost of doing business in the region by connecting Northern products to markets around the world and unlocking formerly inaccessible critical mineral deposits.
“Stantec is also engaged with the Government of the Northwest Territories for the southern portion of the road, which coupled with the Grays Bay Road and Port will fully connect the Kitikmeot region—and specifically the Northwest Passage—to southern Canada on a permanent basis. This is exciting as it opens the supply chain, providing access to critical minerals and strengthening Canada’s Arctic Sovereignty,” says Arlen Foster, principal and infrastructure practice lead for Northern Canada. “The Grays Bay Road and Port Project will unlock the potential for new economic development in the North, empowering local communities and Indigenous businesses. Moreover, this project will play a key role in asserting Canada’s presence in the Arctic, solidifying our strategic position in the Northwest Passage while promoting long-term prosperity for generations to come.”