Students at Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk are gaining new learning opportunities through a virtual program that is approaching a milestone of approximately 3,000 sessions delivered across the Northwest Territories.
The program, known as Connected North, is operated by the charity TakingITGlobal. It provides remote classrooms with access to artists, mentors, and experts via video conferencing. The initiative was established following a call from Governor General Mary Simon for better education supports in the North. Teachers at Mangilaluk School currently book these sessions on a weekly basis, selecting topics that align with their specific curriculum needs.
Ephraim Warren, the principal of Mangilaluk School, said the programming allows students to engage with people from across the region and the world. He noted that the culturally relevant nature of the sessions is particularly valued. The program works with about 500 content providers, more than half of whom are First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. These sessions often include hands-on activities, with materials like sewing kits mailed directly to participating schools at no cost to families.
This virtual support arrives as schools across the Northwest Territories face significant uncertainty regarding education funding. Federal changes related to Jordan’s Principle have resulted in hundreds of layoffs across the territory, including 13 teachers in Inuvik and numerous support staff positions throughout the Beaufort Delta region. In this difficult environment, the Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Council reported that 82 percent of regional teachers surveyed strongly agreed that the virtual sessions help engage students and increase their motivation for learning.
The expansion of the program, which began serving schools in the Sahtu region earlier in 2026, continues to grow despite the broader challenges in the education sector. Meanwhile, students in Tuktoyaktuk have also benefited from recent physical improvements to their learning space. In April 2025, Mangilaluk School officially returned to a newly renovated facility that includes a new library, cultural room, gymnasium, kitchen, and foyer, as part of a multi-year project to update the school building.
