Our Services
Northern Futures Planning provides a broad variety of community planning advisory services to Northern municipalities, 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
Master Development Plan and Subdivision Design
Hamlet of Cambridge Bay | 2019 – Present
Northern Futures, in partnership with EXP Engineering, is drafting the design of the NorthStar subdivision and developing a master development plan for the future growth of the Hamlet. The project involves a site visit to identify opportunities and constraints for development, producing concept options for consideration by Hamlet staff, preparing community plan amendments for the implementation of the subdivision development plan, and working with the territorial government to obtain approvals.
Development Review and Planning Advisory Services
City of Iqaluit | 2015 – 2019
Northern Futures led a team of consultants in providing day-to-day development review and advisory services to the City of Iqaluit’s Department of Planning and Development. The services involved reviewing and processing development applications submitted to the City (including preparing preliminary comments), resolving planning issues, preparing planning reports, and making recommendations to the Director and Assistant Planner on planning applications. Advisory services included projects related to by-law review and consolidation, procedural advice, best practices review, and analysis of various planning issues.
Community Planning Support Services
Kativik Regional Government | 2016 – Present
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.
Community Plan & Zoning By-law Update
Hamlet of Cambridge Bay | 2016
Northern Futures, in partnership with Ehrler Limousin & Associates, prepared a new Community Plan, Zoning By-law and Poster Plan for the municipality of Cambridge Bay in Nunavut. With the establishment of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), the municipal Council wanted to review its municipal planning tools to ensure proper development control and good long-term planning for its limited land base.
First Nation Planning Services
Community Land Use Plan
Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation | 2019 – Present
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 that will result 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.
Community Land Use Plan
Brunswick House First Nation | 2016 – 2017
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.
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 and Land Management
Quarry Administration
City of Iqaluit | 2019
Northern Futures was retained by the City of Iqaluit to study and propose a strategy to regulate unauthorized quarrying, granular processing and stockpiling activities on untitled Municipal Land. The Quarry Strategy outlined the required actions to bring these unauthorized activities into compliance with territorial and local regulations with the goal of responsible resource management, good land use planning, realizing revenue potential of the resource, and managing any liability and risk associated with the activities. The Strategy led to gaining the necessary approvals from the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB), the entering into of a Quarry Administration Agreement (QAA) with the GN, the drafting of a Quarry Management & Restoration Plan, identifying the required By-law amendments to support the uses, the preparation of standard Quarry Permit conditions, the development of a Land Use Permit Fee Policy, and the issuance of Land Use Permits to local businesses to authorize occupancy of lands for granular processing and stockpiling activities. The Strategy identifies future actions including comprehensive Environmental Site Assessments, site remediation, and a future legal survey so the City can obtain title to certain lands.
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; introducing public tender as a new method of leasing 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 – Present
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
Planning and Lands Administration Course Development
NVision Insight Group | 2020 – Present
Northern Futures prepared a new manual for the delivery of a face-to face Planning and Lands course through the Nunavut Municipal Training Organization and Nunavut Arctic College. The course objectives are for Planning and Lands Administrators to better understand the steps of various planning and lands processes and to know how to prepare documentation that enables development and leasing. The course content covers topics on the survey approval process, land file management, lot prices and lease rates, land disposal, community plan and zoning by-law amendments, land applications, land leases and development permit applications.
Planning and Lands Administration Course Delivery
NVision Insight Group | 2016 – Present
Northern Futures, a sub-consultant to Nvision Insight Group, prepares and delivers courses for the Nunavut Municipal Training Organization through Nunavut Arctic College. The courses are delivered in the certificate program for Planning & Lands Administration. The courses train Hamlet staff in the core concepts and procedures for effective community planning and lands administration in Nunavut municipalities. Northern Futures has delivered between two and four courses per year since 2016. The courses are delivered on-line using the Adobe Connect virtual classroom platform.
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.