Koomiut Co-operative

Community owned Co-operatives in the Arctic are multi-purpose businesses that provide a wide range of services to their members and their communities. Services provided by local Co-ops include retail stores, hotel and tourism operations, cable television, arts and craft marketing, fuel distribution, construction & heavy equipment services, property rental and a variety of agency type services. Koomiut Co-op operates a variety of businesses including a hotel, retail store, cable TV, freight services, heavy equipment, property rentals and general contracting. The Co-op also offers sea kayaking tours for those who love the outdoors. The name Kugaaruk means “a river flowing through the community that is used for fishing and to supply water”. Kugaaruk—formerly known as Pelly Bay—is located on the Simpson Peninsula, south of the Gulf of Boothia. Locally, the community is also known as Arviligjuaqy meaning “the great bowhead whale habitat”. Kugaaruk has long been occupied by the Netsiligmiut—the people of the seal. According to the 2011 census, the community has grown in recent years to a population of 771. Kugaaruk is nestled within coastal mountains, which lie between the bay and the wide expanse of the tundra. As a result, the area is very picturesque with a diverse landscape. A stone church built by missionary priests in the 1930’s and 40’s is a historic site that has been maintained by the Hamlet of Kugaaruk.