Flagship program
What makes people feel safe and at home in the North?
At RLRI, Arctic security begins with connected, inclusive communities—not only infrastructure and policy.
Program pillars
Shared spaces, sport, and celebration that build belonging, trust, and resilience in Iqaluit.
Read more02Cultural exchange and inclusive programming that reduce divides and strengthen social cohesion.
Read more03Evidence-based research and dialogue linking Northern communities with institutions and policy across Canada.
Read moreSports & Community Engagement
At the Real Life Research Institute, we understand Arctic security not only as a matter of infrastructure or policy, but as something grounded in strong, connected, and inclusive communities. In the North, people feel safer and more at home when there are meaningful opportunities to connect, interact, and build trust across cultures and generations. Our Sports and Community Engagement program contributes to Arctic security by creating shared spaces that reduce social isolation, strengthen relationships, and build a sense of belonging. We believe that these factors are key in fostering safe and resilient Northern communities. To advance this work, we run two main annual programs in Iqaluit:
Bringing youth and community members together through football to promote inclusion, teamwork, and social cohesion. In the spirit of the FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by Canada, our 2026 soccer program is supported through generous funding from Canadian Heritage, enabling us to expand access and community participation.
As part of our annual Arctic security programming, the Iqaluit Unity Race creates inclusive public spaces that bring people together, strengthen community ties, and promote collective well-being—key foundations of safe and resilient Northern communities. By encouraging broad participation across cultures, ages, gender, and backgrounds, the race helps reduce isolation and foster a shared sense of belonging. These are critical elements of community-based Arctic security.
The first two successive editions of the Iqaluit Unity Race have been delivered with the generous support of the Department of Community Services, Government of Nunavut, and the City of Iqaluit, enabling this initiative to grow into a flagship platform for community engagement and unity in the North.
See event photosAt RLRI, we understand Arctic security as rooted in inclusive, connected communities. Our research on multiculturalism highlights its critical role in strengthening social cohesion, trust, and resilience in the North. In Iqaluit, where diversity continues to grow, creating spaces for cultural exchange helps reduce divides and build a shared sense of belonging. Through our Multiculturalism and Community Engagement programming, we advance Arctic security by promoting inclusion and community cohesion. Each year, we deliver initiatives and research that bring people together in meaningful and accessible ways.
At the Real Life Research Institute, we recognize that Arctic security is strengthened when policies and interventions are grounded in local realities and informed by inclusive, evidence-based research. Our approach emphasizes the importance of connecting Northern communities with researchers, institutions, and decision-makers across Canada to ensure that Arctic security reflects lived experiences in the North. Our Research & Northern–Southern Dialogue program contributes to Arctic security by bridging community knowledge and policy processes—facilitating collaboration, strengthening understanding, and supporting more responsive and locally grounded solutions.
In Northern communities like Iqaluit, creating spaces for dialogue between communities and external researchers is essential to building trust, reducing disconnects, and ensuring that research contributes meaningfully to community well-being and resilience. To advance this work, we deliver ongoing initiatives that foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and partnerships between Northern and Southern actors, strengthening both community resilience and the policy relevance of Arctic security efforts.
Get involved
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