About the Pirurvik Centre

1993: The Dream

Like most creative ventures, Pirurvik began with a vision and a dream. In 1993, after a 20 year career as a teacher and principal, Leena Evic began dreaming and envisioning a new kind of Inuit learning centre. At the time, she sat down to draw a picture and frame the mission of this new Centre. It would be called “Pirurvik”, an Inuktitut word meaning a “place of growth”, and it would:

• be a place of personal growth and development;
• be dedicated to Inuit Language, Culture, and Wellbeing;be creative, expressive and inspire;
• be about harmony, beauty, serenity;
• be expansive in thought and operate at a high level ;
• maintain a soulful purpose reflecting the best of our Inuit People;

1993 – 2003: the Development Years:

Over the course of the next several years, Leena began to refine her vision and gain experiences towards the creation of the full Pirurvik Centre. In 1997 she enhanced the vision of the Centre and added new elements such as an on-the land retreat camp and a larger facility. It would have a stronger business model to ensure sustainability and long term viability. This place would be connected to the land and through its presence reflect Inuit culture both old and new.  It would be home to programs for Inuit and non-Inuit alike.

2003- 2010: Foundations; Phase 1

In the winter of 2003, a decade after her original dream, the time was right to dive in and begin the process to establish Pirurvik. The first step was to begin recruiting a team and the second was to find a startup facility.

The process began on strong footing with the recruitment of Gavin Nesbitt, an Iqaluit resident with a background in organizational development, language and technology. This was followed shortly thereafter by the availability (and purchase) of one of Iqaluit’s most beautiful houses. The house, located in the Tundra Valley area of Iqaluit, had been built in 1995 and run by Jens Steenberg as a Bed & Breakfast and training facility. The house seemed pre-destined to become the starting point for Pirurvik.  After purchasing the house, Pirurvik named it “Kajjaarvik”, meaning "a place of serenity", and began operation as a new B&B and a centre for its programs.

Since that starting point, the concept of Pirurvik has evolved and matured.  It has developed a solid reputation for innovation and quality and thousands of people have participated in programs, learned from its productions and enjoyed the hospitality of the current facility.

2010 - : Building the Centre, Phase 2

With 7 years experience, a highly skilled team and many successes under our belt, Pirurvik is now approaching its next evolution in fulfilling the dream to build the Centre. Starting in 2010, we will start the development phase towards building a permanent Pirurvik Centre.