History

NCC incorporated on March 10, 1995 as Nunavut Construction Corporation with a mandate to develop infrastructure for the future Government of Nunavut.

When the government officially came into existence on April 1, 1999 it would need 98,000 ft2 of office space and 250 homes for its employees – all spread across the 11 communities from which the decentralized government would operate. The government would also need a modern, sophisticated legislature building able to express the unique identity and spirit of the Inuit of Nunavut.

Under an agreement with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Canadian government, NCC delivered the 33,000 ft2 Legislative Assembly in Iqaluit, as well as government office buildings and staff housing units in 11 communities. The company completed the project on budget and one year ahead of schedule.

For such a young company, the challenge was massive. The timing and scale of the project, the Arctic climate, the transportation logistics, the unique designs, the need to train local workers – all of these factors came into play.

Looking back, the achievements of our first builders were extraordinary:

  • Employment for 258 land-claim beneficiaries
  • 22 Inuit in a carpentry apprenticeship program
  • More than 100,000 apprenticeship hours logged
  • 44 Inuit in a non-certified training program

Our people also gained valuable experience in managing projects, leveraging relationships with partners, and working in close co-operation with clients. Our financial expertise also took shape, as we financed the $130,000,000 construction program entirely through private-sector financial institutions. We began building in 1997 and completed our work in 2001. On Oct. 27, 2002 Queen Elizabeth II opened the legislature.

More projects followed. Over a decade, we delivered more than $300,000,000 in construction projects and established a real-estate portfolio whose value exceeds $200,000,000. Our landmark projects include Inuksugait Plaza, the student residence at the Nunavut Arctic College, and a 28-unit residential building in Iqaluit that has set a new standard for Nunavut social housing.

In 2009 the company reorganized in two business lines:

  • NCC Development Limited remains focused on our growing construction business.
  • NCC Properties Limited, (created through the amalgamation of NCC Commercial Properties Limited,NCC Residential Properties Limited, Inuksugait Inc. and NCC Gjoa Haven Inc.) is focused on property management.

In 2010 we formed NCC Dowland Construction Limited, a joint venture with Dowland Contracting Limited, to develop large Mining and infrastructure projects in Nunavut.