Ore discovery Arthur English was a prospector on
CGS Arctic, the steamship of Captain
Joseph-Elzéar Bernier, as part of the
Geological Survey of Canada in 1910. They wintered the 1910-11 winter in Arctic Bay ( south-east of Nanisivik). In 1911 Arthur English published his discovery of a "very large body of ore" at Nanisivik. Due to heavy lead-zinc contamination, this was not possible and the homes have been demolished. Local telephone service was discontinued on February 19, 2007, on approval from
CRTC. As of the
2006 census the population was 0, a drop from the
2001 census with a population of 77.
Conversion to naval station On August 8, 2007,
CBC News reported that
Canadian Forces documents showed plans to convert the site into a naval station. The plan, which would turn the former mine's existing port into a deepwater facility, would cost $60 million and it was expected that Prime Minister
Stephen Harper would make an announcement during his stop in
Resolute. On August 10, 2007, Harper announced construction of a new docking and refuelling facility in Nanisivik for the Canadian Forces, in an effort to maintain a Canadian presence in
Arctic waters during the navigable season (June–October). The choice for Nanisivik as a site was partially based on its location within the eastern entrance to the
Northwest Passage, and the existence of a deep-water berthing facility at the site, as well as a "jet-capable" airstrip nearby. Detailed planning for the project began in August 2007, with environmental studies and assessments being carried out in the summer of 2008. Construction at the site was originally expected to begin in the summer of 2010, with early operating capability available in 2012. The facility was planned to be fully operational by 2015. Once completed, the naval station will likely be home to the
Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels. These ships have
ice-breaking capability and help the government's goal to enforce Canada's sovereignty over the region. These ships will likely allow the
Victoria-class submarines to travel in the
Canadian Arctic region. The facility was to have an initial operational capability in 2012, and be fully complete in 2015 but is behind schedule. Development is being delayed because environmental cleanup has been delayed as much as possible by Breakwater Resources Ltd., owned by Nyrstar N.V. After repeated delays, construction on the site finally commenced in 2015. The station had been expected to be operational in summer 2019. After numerous delays during construction, the expected completion is in 2024. According to the Department of National Defence, the main reasons for the frequent delays are rising costs of construction, logistics issues and a climate that limits the annual construction season. == Geography ==