Cambridge Bay residents start petition to close down group home

A Nunavut group home that is under investigation by the Department of Family Services is now facing pressure from residents in Cambridge Bay to close down.

Nunik Care Services runs the home for children and youth between the ages of five and 19. The home, which opened in May 2023, has seven youth in care, some from Cambridge Bay and others from different Nunavut communities. The group home is funded by the Nunavut government but privately run. 

Some in the community believe youth at the home are behind recent instances of vandalism and theft.

"It needs to be put to a stop," said Cody Evalik, who has started a petition to have the group home closed down.

The petition, which now has over 100 signatures in the town of about 2,000 people, describes the youth at the home as being "way out of control" and "out at all hours of the night." It suggests the group home isn't caring for the youth properly and isn't giving them enough support.

"These kids need a place to go to that has better treatment than what they're [getting] at the group home," the petition states. 

Nunavut RCMP confirmed in an email they have linked some crimes in Cambridge Bay to youth — some of whom are in care at the group home, and some of whom are not.

"The RCMP believes that long-term prevention of youth crime and victimization can only be accomplished in partnership with the community," wrote Cpl. George Henrie in an email to CBC. He said the police work with other community services to get youth the help they need.

RCMP did not give details on the crimes in question that have been linked to the home. However, a media release from RCMP in November said six youth in Cambridge Bay between the ages of 11 and 15 had been arrested for breaking into the Canada Post office. Four were charged.

Solomon Bucknor, the director of Nunik Care Services, said the home is essential for youth. He said the home is staffed 24/7, and staff are doing their best to look after "very difficult, very challenging" children and youth.

"We do our best to provide that love, that support, what they need … We provide that for them, take them to the health centre, provide food for them, buy stuff for them. So I will talk like it's a big family. Let me just put it that way," said Bucknor.

Bucknor added that for many of the children, there is no other alternative and the care home is needed in the territory.

'Where do they go?'

But some other residents in the community say they're worried the care the children are receiving isn't adequate.

Former Cambridge Bay mayor Angulalik Pedersen said he's spoken with youth from the care home who he's seen in the streets in the middle of the night.

"They're saying, 'The place we live is not good and we're scared to be there. So we're just here.' And they were in the ports of a building getting out of the wind. So, you know, I understand the child's frustration. You're afraid to be in that home. So where do they go? What do they do?" Pedersen said.

Pedersen said he sees the petition as the community fighting for children in the group home. He said his focus isn't to see the children removed from the community, but to get them better care.

"What we're fighting for is a proper home for these children, be it here or somewhere else — they just need a proper home," said Pedersen.

He said he supports the petition, calling the Nunik Care Services home a "privately owned, publicly funded mess, for lack of a better term."

"These kids need one that provides care that they desperately need, a home that's with qualified staff that understands the hardships these children have lived through. But the current home they're in is none of those things."

Care home under investigation

Separately, the Nunavut Department of Family Services confirmed it is working with RCMP to investigate the group home.

The department said it is aware of "allegations" at the home, but declined to elaborate. It said it "takes these matters very seriously."

"We have engaged the RCMP and are conducting a thorough investigation. Ensuring the safety and well-being of those in our care remains our highest priority," the department wrote in an email.

Bucknor, the care home director, told CBC two incidents involving children at the group home are being investigated. In one, a child accused an employee of choking them; while in the other, a youth claimed a staff member "manhandled" them.

Bucknor denied the allegations and said an investigation by Family Services and RCMP is ongoing.

RCMP Cpl. Henrie told CBC he had no information to share on the investigation.

The Department of Family Services said in an email that in general, allegations of abuse are assessed and, if warranted, investigated. If a group home is found to be unsafe for youth, it could be ordered to take corrective measures, or it could be closed. 

The department added that these kind of decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as the severity of abuse, if found in a home; the ability to address issues through corrective measures; and the overall safety of the children in care.