Our Services
Northern Futures Planning provides a broad variety of community planning advisory services to Northern municipalities, developers, organizations and First Nations.
We provide municipal planning services, partner with First Nations to develop community land use plans, assist communities with land administration and management, and offer training and expertise development.
A selection of our recent projects are featured below.
Municipal Planning Services
Assisting Nunavut Municipalities to Accelerate Housing Development
Fifteen Nunavut Municipalities | 2024 – Present
In collaboration with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, Northern Futures is providing planning and project management support to 13 municipalities to accelerate their housing approval process. This assistance is aimed at helping municipalities fulfill their obligations under the Housing Accelerator Fund provided by CMHC by improving their planning and land administration practices and policies.
Development Review and Planning Advisory Services
Hamlet of Cambridge Bay | 2020 – Present
Northern Futures provides day-to-day development review and planning advisory services to the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay. The services involve reviewing and processing a wide variety of development applications submitted to the Hamlet. Advisory services include land administration guidance related to leases, lot pricing and land use permits. Our application processing includes preparing preliminary comments, resolving planning issues, preparing planning reports, and making recommendations to the Land Development Committee and Council on planning applications. Our services also include identifying future development areas, assisting with land development and resolving complex land administration challenges.
Community Planning and Subdivision Development
Hamlet of Cambridge Bay | 2016 – 2023
Northern Futures has supported the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay in guiding long-term growth and development through comprehensive planning and land use initiatives. This includes preparing a new Community Plan, Zoning By-law, and Poster Plan (2016) to establish effective development control and outline land availability for future growth, as well as drafting the Master Development Plan and NorthStar Subdivision Design (2019–2023). The work involved site assessments, developing concept options for Hamlet staff, preparing community plan amendments and collaborating with the territorial government to obtain approvals for subdivision development.
Development Review and Planning Advisory Services
City of Iqaluit | 2015 – 2019, 2021 – present
Northern Futures provides day-to-day development review and advisory services to the City of Iqaluit’s Department of Planning and Development. The services involve reviewing and processing a wide variety of development applications submitted to the City (e.g. residential multiplexes, mixed-use buildings, hotel and conference centre, warehouses, garages, deep sea port, small craft harbour, healing centre). The applications involve reviewing supporting studies, preparing preliminary comments, resolving planning issues, preparing planning reports, and making recommendations to the Director and Council on planning applications. Advisory services include projects related to by-law review and consolidation, Departmental procedures, best practices review, and analysis of various planning issues.
Land Use Planning and Environmental Administration Support Services
Government of Nunavut’s Department of Environment (GN‑ENV) | 2023 – present
Northern Futures is proud to support the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Environment (GN‑ENV) through the Land Use Planning & Environmental Administration Support Services project. The initiative provides technical expertise in land use planning, policy analysis, environmental administration, and project management to strengthen the review, approval, and implementation of the Recommended Nunavut Land Use Plan. Northern Futures works closely with GN‑ENV staff, intergovernmental working groups, and northern communities to deliver policy recommendations, technical analyses, geospatial mapping, training, and capacity-building. By integrating local knowledge, environmental stewardship, and governance best practices, the project ensures sustainable and resilient outcomes for Nunavut’s land use and environmental planning processes.
Community Planning Support Services
Kativik Regional Government | 2016 - 2020
The Kativik Regional Government is updating the Master Plans and Zoning By-laws for many Nunavik communities including Inukjuak, Ivujivik, Kangiqsujuaq, Tasiujaq, Aupaluk, Kuujjuarapik, Kangirsuk and Umiujaq. Northern Futures was engaged to support these community planning processes by undertaking a planning analysis for each community. The analysis includes documentation of community context, history, geology, terrain and climate; a demographic profile, population and housing projections; a lands needs assessment; a review of the condition and adequacy of existing community infrastructure; and an assessment of planning challenges and opportunities for the 20-year planning horizon.
Housing Accelerator Fund Initiatives Implementation Services
Hamlet of Cambridge Bay | 2024 - Present
Northern Futures is supporting the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay in implementing its Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) initiatives funded by CMHC. Our team is leading the delivery of nine strategic initiatives designed to streamline housing approvals, promote diverse and affordable housing options, modernize land administration systems and strengthen local capacity. Through planning, policy and technology upgrades, Northern Futures is helping the Hamlet achieve its Housing Supply Growth Target and access the full $1.3 million in HAF funding to accelerate housing development in the community.
First Nation Planning Services
Community Land Use Plan
Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation | 2019 – 2020
In preparation for the next twenty years of growth and development, Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation engaged TBT Engineering, Odonaterra and Northern Futures to deliver a community planning process. NNFN recently secured a significant addition to the reserve land base and wanted to comprehensively plan the future use of both the existing and new reserve lands. The process resulted in the delivery of a Land Use Plan and Capital Plan to guide the future growth, development and servicing of established and new reserve lands within the Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg community. The Land Use Plan lays out a number of actions that the community identified as priorities over the short-, medium-, and long-term.
Community Land Use Plan
Brunswick House First Nation | 2016-2020
Brunswick House First Nation has opted out of the land-related sections of the Indian Act and into the First Nations Land Management Regime (FNLMR), allowing BHFN to administer its own lands and resources and to take advantage of emerging economic development opportunities. To improve community readiness to implement the FNLMR, Northern Futures delivered a Pre-Planning Workshop to BHFN Chief and Council. With the guidance provided in the Workshop and in partnership with Odonaterra, Northern Futures worked with BHFN to deliver a community land use planning process which resulted in a Land Use Plan for the BHFN Reserve Lands. The Land Use Plan was adopted by Chief and Council in July 2017. Northern Futrues is currently assisting BHFN with various initiatives to implement its Land Use Plan.
Community Land Use Plan
Mattagami First Nation | 2018-2019
Mattagami First Nation has opted out of the land-related sections of the Indian Act and into the First Nations Land Management Regime (FNLMR), so that it can administer its own lands and resources. Northern Futures worked with the First Nation to develop a Land Use Plan to take advantage of emerging economic development opportunities this will create. At the start of the project, Northern Futures delivered a Pre-Planning Workshop to the Chief and Council to help the community prepare to implement the framework agreement. With the guidance provided in the Workshop, and in partnership with Odonaterra, Northern Futures worked with the First Nation to develop a Land Use Plan to guide development of its Reserve Lands.
Land Administration & Land Management
LAB and PLA Training
Municipality of Pangnirtung | 2025 - 2026
Northern Futures Planning (NFP) staff delivered in-depth Planning and Lands Administration training to support and onboard newly hired Planning and Lands staff in Pangnirtung. Services included organizing physical land files; developing a digital file management system; delivering introductory workshops on key Planning and Lands Administration topics; reviewing lot inventory; providing case-by-case advisory support; and supplying the Land Administration Procedures document. During the same visit, NFP staff also facilitated the Public Hearing for the proposed Land Administration By-law. NFP utilized feedback from community members to review and consider subsequent revisions to the By-law document. NFP will continue to provide support till the implementation of the land administration by -law.
Quarry Strategy
City of Iqaluit | 2018 - 2019
Northern Futures was retained by the City of Iqaluit to study and recommend a strategy to regulate quarrying and granular processing and stockpiling activities on untitled Municipal Land. The process included the signing of a Quarry Administration Agreement (QAA) with the Government of Nunavut, submitting necessary documents to obtain approvals from the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB), preparing Land Use Permits for contractors for occupancy of lands for non-extraction activities, and proposing appropriate General Plan and Zoning By-law amendments.
Land Administration By-law Review
City of Iqaluit | 2016 - 2019
Northern Futures assisted the City of Iqaluit in reviewing and updating its Land Administration By-law. The purpose was to make the by-law more user friendly, update outdated information and propose new provisions. Key changes proposed included new eligibility and procedures for residential ballot draw; new methods for pricing new and old lots; clarifying methods for advertising and leasing of lots: changes to construction timelines; initiatives to support non-market housing; introducing authorizations for private sector to develop roads and servicing on Municipal Land; and proposing changes to lease terms and provisions.
Land Administration By-law Review
Hamlet of Cape Dorset | 2017 - 2018
Northern Futures assisted the Municipality of Cape Dorset in reviewing its Land Administration By-law (LAB) and proposing revisions to the Draft By-law. The purpose of the by-law review was to identify gaps in provisions, indicate where provisions may be inconsistent with the GN Municipal Land Administration Policy and ensure language in the LAB is accessible to improve the ease with which provisions are interpreted.
Land Management Policy Development
Qikiqtani Inuit Association | 2018 – 2020
Northern Futures Planning is working in partnership with Lichen Consulting to develop a Land Administration Policy for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) Lands & Resources Department. The policy will provide guidance for the effective management and control of access to Inuit Owned Lands in a manner that promotes the principles of self-reliance, and the cultural and social well-being of Qikiqtani Inuit. The policy outlines guiding principles of QIA’s land management approach, defines eligibility and preference of applicants, and outlines how applications will be evaluated and what land management tools will generally be used (e.g. leases, licences, easements, etc.).
Land Referendum Support Services
Government of Nunavut | 2016
Under the terms of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, voters may elect by referendum to remove the restriction on the alienation of municipal lands. Anticipating many questions and enquiries from municipal governments, organizations, and residents regarding the implications of a yes or no vote in the communities, the Department of Community and Government Services engaged Northern Futures to assist in preparing, reviewing and editing presentation material, website material and other resources to explore frequently asked questions and implications of a yes vote.
Training and Expertise Development
We provide virtual classroom training, and design custom courses on community planning and lands administration with indigenous communities.
Planning and Lands Administration Course Delivery
Nunavut Municipal Training Organization | 2016 - 2024
Since 2016, Northern Futures has been delivering Community Planning & Lands Administration courses for the Nunavut Municipal Training Organization (NMTO) through Nunavut Arctic College. The courses are delivered in the NMTO certificate program for Planning & Lands Administration. The courses train municipal staff in the core concepts and procedures for effective community planning and lands administration in Nunavut municipalities. Northern Futures has delivered between three and four courses per year since 2016. The courses combine “live classes” using a virtual classroom platform with independent reading, quizzes, assignments, exam and forum discussion.
Community Planning & Lands Administration Course Update
NVision Insight Group | 2018 - 2020
In 2018-2019, Northern Futures completely comprehensively updated the Nunavut Municipal Training Organization’s Planning and Lands courses. The update included rewriting the course manual and adding practical quizzes, assignments and an exam. New graphics and illustrations were created to more clearly communicate concepts and processes in both planning and land administration. The courses were restructured into 4 on-line courses which feature “live classes” (Adobe Connect platform) and 1 face-to-face practical course. For the on-line courses, the content is available in a PDF course manual format and in .html format on NMTO’s Remote Learning website. For the face-to-face course, the content is available in a PDF Student Workbook and Instructor’s Guide format. The Workbook takes the student through a series of 8 practical exercises that cover the most common tasks they will encounter in their job. The topics include the survey approval process, land file management, lot prices and lease rates, by-law amendments, land applications, land leases, and development permit applications.
Subdivision Design and Standards Manual
Climate Change Secretariat - GN Department of Environment | 2019
Northern Futures updated the Government of Nunavut’s (GN) Subdivision Design and Standards Manual, originally published in 2010, for use by the Planning and Lands Division of the GN’s Community and Government Services. The purpose of the update was to review and revise the existing chapters of the manual to ensure that they correspond with contemporary policies and practices, and add new chapters that discuss new land development innovations and considerations that are becoming increasingly common and standard to contemporary practice. Northern Futures provided these services as a sub-consultant to Lichen Consulting Inc.
Facilitation of a 2-Day Workshop on Permafrost Hazard Mapping
Nunavut’s Climate Change Secretariat | 2018 - 2019
Northern Futures designed and facilitated a two-day workshop of 35 participants representing 4 northern regions of Canada (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut and Nunavik) to improve the future of permafrost mapping for community planning in northern communities. The workshop guided participants towards concrete recommendations for integrating permafrost hazard mapping into community decision-making. The project included pre-engagement activities to refine the agenda and ensure full participation. Northern Futures produced a Final Report summarizing the recommendations and action steps for how to move the initiative forward. Northern Futures provided these services as a sub-consultant to Lichen Consulting Inc.
AI Disclosure Statement
Northern Futures Planning provides the best value to our clients by combining our expertise with technology and tools. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of our tools. We may choose to utilize AI for data analysis, background research and early-stage report drafting. Every product we deliver to clients is carefully reviewed, refined and approved by our team of professional planners. Clients who wish to know where AI has been used in the delivery of their project can request that information. We also ensure that all client data and project materials remain confidential and secure, applying AI tools in a way that protects client privacy and ensures no confidential information is shared with or used to train external AI systems.
For more information about how we can help you with your project, contact us!