Pinnguaq Association TE(a)CH program - Nunavut

The Pinnguaq Association, located in Iqaluit, Nunavut, has had remarkable success in developing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) skills through innovative technology, art and play. Founded in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, in 2012, the Pinnguaq Association supports participants and takes them from their first coding lesson to opportunities in employment and production of their own original ideas.

CanNor supported Pinnguaq's "Making Technology Opportunities Through Te(a)ch" between 2019-21, allowing the organization to bring their programs to Nunavut communities. In 2019-2020 and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, they visited eight communities around Nunavut to deliver STEAM programming opportunities. Once the pandemic began, CANNOR funding allowed Pinnguaq to pivot to online delivery and support through the development of modules and learning kits. These kits and lessons were used in all 25 Nunavut communities as well as across Nunavik, NWT, and Yukon.

Pinnguaq delivered 1,645 unique learning experiences impacting a total of 712 individual Nunavummiut youth and 265 individual adults. Of their participants, 91% are Inuit, and 55% are female. Courses for youth focused on building digital literacy and skills for the future of work, while adult courses focused on building skills around existing technology and improving technology use in the workplace.

CanNor funding also supported the purchase of supplies for Makerspaces, the development of an evaluation plan, and the translation of existing learning modules into the Inuktitut language. As a result of CanNor funding, the Pinnguaq Association created and maintained 13 full time jobs in Nunavut during the project.