A new Regional Center of the University of the Arctic will be established in Quebec

The INQ-UArctic Regional Centre for the Province of Québec will serve to strengthen UArctic’s presence and impact in Québec, Canada and beyond.

Representatives of UArctic, Institut nordique du Québec (INQ), and Université Laval formalized the establishment of the new UArctic Regional Centre through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 7 in Inari, Sápmi, Finland, during this year's UArctic Assembly meeting. The new Regional Centre is led by INQ at Université Laval, making it the first UArctic Regional Centre in North America.

The INQ-UArctic Regional Centre for the Province of Québec will support UArctic's mission and strengthen UArctic's presence across the province and beyond, as well as operate for the benefit of UArctic members in the province of Québec in Canada, supporting their participation and engagement in UArctic. The Regional Centre aims to provide information to these members to facilitate their UArctic-related activities, and to promote dialogue and cooperation between UArctic members in Québec and in the Circumpolar North. It will further help increase the visibility of northern and Arctic studies and research; foster and promote unique and relevant educational opportunities for members and northerners through academic collaboration and exchange; build, share and apply knowledge through member contributions and collaborations in research and science, including Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge; and collaborate on the organization of joint academic and scientific activities, and cultural and educational initiatives.

Photo (from left to right): Outi Snellman (UArctic), Lars Kullerud (UArctic), Martin Fortier (ULaval), and Brigitte Bigué (INQ/ULaval) signing the Memorandum of Understanding.