Iqaluit, Nunavut — A new public bus service has been launched in Iqaluit, the only city in Canada’s Arctic, in a bid to provide affordable transportation in a region where options have long been limited. The service, called Iqaluit Transit, began operating in March and is the brainchild of Jacinto Marques, a 36-year-old immigrant from Angola who settled in the northern city after developing a close connection to the area and its people.

Iqaluit, with a population of around 8,300, serves as the capital of Nunavut, a largely Inuit territory established in 1999. The city has experienced steady growth in recent years, with an expanding immigrant population and increasing government presence, drawing more residents and infrastructure development. Despite its status as a capital city, Iqaluit had no public transportation system for many years, leaving residents reliant on expensive taxis or walking long distances.

Marques, who bought the buses secondhand—one from Philadelphia and another from Edmonton—saw an opportunity to fill this gap after observing the challenges faced by residents without personal vehicles. He founded Iqaluit Transit, taking on multiple roles, including driver, security guard, and mechanic, sometimes confronting issues such as mechanical breakdowns common to operating vehicles in the Arctic environment.

The service primarily connects the city’s downtown area with outer neighborhoods like Apex, the most distant community, where residents often commute to government jobs. The flat fare of 5 Canadian dollars (about $3.50) is roughly half the cost of a taxi trip, providing a more accessible alternative for residents like Jordan Angnetsiaq, who commutes daily from Apex to downtown Iqaluit. “Even in winter, I walked pretty much every day,” Angnetsiaq said, noting that his roughly three-mile walk took about an hour each way.

Marques’s interest in the region stems from a longstanding personal connection. As a teenager living in Ottawa, he befriended Inuit classmates, including Hugh Karpik, who later returned to the Arctic. Marques visited Iqaluit as a university student and was intrigued by the local economy and lifestyle. After graduation, he moved to Iqaluit, working in security and law enforcement roles that took him to remote Inuit communities. He eventually launched a marketing business and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, started a delivery service to bring packages directly to residents, profits from which helped fund the bus service.

Since its launch, ridership has fluctuated with seasonal changes. Warmer weather and traditional Inuit seasonal activities, such as fishing and hunting trips on the land, have reduced demand at times, with some days seeing only a handful of passengers. Marques remains optimistic that ridership will grow as colder weather returns and more residents seek reliable transportation options.

Local riders have expressed hope that the service will continue and expand. Esther Usman, a government worker originally from the Philippines, described the transit system as a valuable addition to the community. “I really hope this is sustained,” she said.

Iqaluit Transit represents a notable effort to establish public transportation in one of Canada’s most remote and climate-challenged cities, reflecting both the changes in the region and the determination of individuals seeking to improve local infrastructure despite significant logistical hurdles.