Nunavut Sivuniksavut gets $5M boost for student housing
College staff have been finding housing for up to 50 students
Students attending Nunavut Sivuniksavut, an Inuit youth college leadership program in Ottawa, may soon be able to live in a residence building of their own.
It recently received a $1 million donation from Nunasi Corporation and a $4 million commitment from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. towards the college's goal to purchase a student residence.
Nunasi Corporation, an Inuit-owned business development company, announced its funding in a news release last week.
"This big dollop of money from Nunasi is a major contribution," said Morley Hanson, a coordinator with Nunavut Sivuniksavut.
"We're excited by it. We're very grateful."
For about the last 15 years, college staff have been finding apartments and other housing for each student attending Nunavut Sivuniksavut.
The college had more than 50 students enrolled this year, and Hanson said it can be difficult to arrange housing for all of them.
"It takes a lot of staff time here to secure all these apartments, to secure the leases, to furnish them," he said.
"The student housing market really tightened up."
Hanson explained that the money the college raised through fundraising, as well as the donations, will help secure a residence building.
The college is waiting to hear back about a set of new buildings close to the school that Hanson hopes could serve that purpose.