Fonds 420 - Science Institute of the Northwest Territories fonds

The Science Institute of the Northwest Territories (SINT) was established April 1, 1985 by the NWT Legislative Assembly as a non-profit corporation operating at arm’s-length from the GNWT. SINT was headed by an Executive Director, reporting to a Chairman and Board of Directors. The Board consisted of seven to thirteen members, 50 percent of whom had to be NWT residents.

SINT grew out of the Science Advisory Board, which had filled the need to provide advice to the Legislative Assembly on scientific, engineering, and technology matters from 1976 to 1984. By the time the Science Institute Act was passed in May 1984, the desire for a Science Institute was already well-established, being discussed previously in the Legislature and by the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

SINT was established “to foster science in the Northwest Territories, to increase public awareness of scientific activities and ensure northern participation in scientific and technological research, programs and activities.” SINT aimed to assist the scientific community, identify, coordinate and conduct research, provide advice, and license scientific research under the NWT Scientists Act. The first meeting of the SINT Board took place in August 1985 under Chairman Dr. James M. Harrison, a former member of the Science Advisory Board. Robert R. (Bob) Janes was appointed to the position of Executive Director later that year and began work in March 1986. Harrison was succeeded as Board Chairman by John H. Parker, former NWT Commissioner in March 1989. Janes was succeeded as Executive Director by J. D. (Doug) Heyland in August 1989.

Activities of SINT included: advising Legislative Assembly, licensing scientific research, publishing papers and a newsletter, training, conducting research and studies, engaging in liason and committee work, encouraging science fairs and creating resources, running cross-cultural science camps, teaching and participating in workshops and seminars, writing newspaper and radio scripts on northern science topics, delivering the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Programme (starting in 1989), and directing the Technology Development Program (starting 1990) to seek technologies which could be adapted for use in the NWT. In 1988, the Northern Scientific Resource Centres of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, located in Inuvik, Igloolik (Iglulik), and Iqaluit, were transferred to SINT, which continued to operate them to provide logistical support to scientists in the field.

In June 1992, the Government Leader announced decentralization of some government areas, including the Science Institute, to various communities outside Yellowknife. Options were proposed and debated by the SINT Board and NWT government. In March 1993, direction was given by the Minister Responsible for SINT to examine the relationship between SINT, Arctic College, and the Department of Education to see how relations could be strengthened. The amalgamation of SINT and Arctic College began to be discussed. At the end of May 1993, the Minister announced that Arctic College and the Science Institute would be integrated. Executive Director Heyland was requested to retire early and Mark Cleveland, president of Arctic College, was appointed in his place. Steve Richards became the new Chairperson of Board when John Parker’s term ended in April 1993.

After the division of the Territories into NWT and Nunavut in 1999 and the resulting division of Arctic College, SINT devolved into the Nunavut Research Institute at Nunavut Arctic College and Aurora Research Institute at Aurora College.