North of Ordinary - 2025 Year in Review
Work in Northern Canada is never routine. In 2025, co-elevate’s northern work continued to grow north of ordinary, shaped by extreme seasons, challenging logistics, and strong collaboration with communities and builders across the Arctic.
From winter site visits under 24-hour darkness to year-end travel as winter returned, our work this past year was filled with learning, adaptability, and adventure.
[ by the numbers ]
14 Northern communities supported
38 projects in Nunavut
14 housing projects
6 trips to Nunavut by co-elevate team members
1 new territory added to our portfolio: the Northwest Territories
3 projects delivered in the NWT
[ through the seasons ]
In January, Rachel travelled to Arctic Bay, Nunavut to complete a building condition assessment during the peak of winter. The sun never rose above the horizon, and the community experienced 24-hour darkness throughout the visit.
Months later, June brought a completely different perspective. Lyndon travelled to Rankin Inlet during the height of summer and experienced the midnight sun, with nearly 24 hours of daylight. In addition to the extended sunlight, Lyndon’s first visit to Canada’s Arctic was filled with colour and vibrancy of the northern community while reviewing pile and crib foundations.
The fall wrapped up with Julio’s first trip to Iqaluit and Whale Cove, and Rachel to Pangnirtung, one of the most scenic communities in Nunavut.
[ infrastructure that supports communities ]
With 14 housing projects completed or underway, we remain committed to helping address the growing housing needs of Canada’s northern communities. Alongside conventional construction, this year saw an increased use of innovative approaches, including modular builds and panelized construction. These methods help overcome challenges such as short construction seasons and limited sealift windows.
Beyond housing, 2025 included projects that support daily life and economic activity in the North. Highlights included a new co-op grocery store in Whale Cove, and an addition to a hotel in Pangnirtung, increasing capacity for regional travel and construction activity. This work draws on our experience as specialists in permafrost foundation systems, where careful consideration of ground conditions and long-term performance is critical.
[ working within northern realities ]
Northern construction is shaped by sealift schedules, limited access, and a shortened construction season. Throughout 2025, we worked closely with local contractors to plan around these constraints, using available materials and existing steel piles wherever possible to accelerate construction.
[ growing our northern practice ]
2025 also marked our first year working in the Northwest Territories, with three projects delivered across the region. We’re excited to be entering a new territory, learning new regulatory frameworks while applying lessons gained from years of northern experience.
This past year also included our largest project to date in Nunavut’s capital, Iqaluit. In September, construction broke ground on a new 85-room, six-storey hotel on Astro Hill, designed using a combination of timber, steel, and concrete, supported by a steel pile foundation system. This project represents a significant milestone, both in scale and complexity, and reflects our continued growth in delivering technically demanding projects in Canada’s North.
[ looking ahead ]
As we start the new year, we’re building on the momentum of a year shaped by collaboration, adaptability, and trust across Northern Canada. The lessons learned in 2025 continue to inform how we approach new projects and partnerships.
