Agnico Eagle Expands School Breakfast Program in Nunavut
News related to:Agnico Eagle · 2 min read
RANKIN INLET, Nunavut, Oct. 16, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- On World Food Day, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and the Breakfast Club of Canada highlighted the impact of their partnership aimed at addressing food insecurity in Nunavut. The partnership, which began in 2023 with an initial $2.5-million investment, has expanded to include 22 schools across the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions, reaching 100% of schools where Agnico Eagle operates and providing nutritious breakfasts to more than 5,000 students.
The five-year, $5-million commitment announced by Agnico Eagle in May 2026 builds on the initial investment. This expanded commitment aims to sustain dependable access to school breakfasts while supporting more resilient, community-driven approaches to school food programming. The success of the program over the past three years has demonstrated the potential of strong partnerships in addressing food insecurity.
Adams emphasized the importance of connecting Breakfast Club of Canada with local organizations, businesses, and community partners across Nunavut. He also highlighted Agnico Eagle's commitment to northern operations and logistics, which will contribute to the development of a sustainable, Nunavut-led model.
The program's success is particularly significant in Nunavut, where geographic remoteness, transportation challenges, and the high cost of living create significant barriers to food access. In Inuit Nunangat, providing a complete breakfast exceeds $12 per child, more than six times the approximately $2 per child typically required nationally. This underscores the unique challenges of ensuring consistent access to nutritious food in remote communities.
The next phase of the partnership will focus on developing a Nunavut School Food Network. This network is envisioned as a sustainable, community-led model that brings together organizations, institutions, and partners around school food programming. The goal is to strengthen collaboration, diversify support, and explore opportunities to better connect school programs with local and traditional food systems. Solutions will be grounded in the priorities and realities of Inuit communities.
Desharnais highlighted the importance of supporting food security in Nunavut, where school breakfast programs are one example of how local partnerships can help improve access to nutritious food while supporting long-term community-led approaches.
Agnico Eagle's approach has always been to listen to communities first and provide support to locally identified needs.
This original storybook, inspired by real stories and experiences shared by Nunavummiut, features artwork by Nunavut illustrators Kayla Williams and Saelym Degrandpre. The book explores country food, harvesting and preparation techniques, seasonal traditions, family stories, and knowledge passed between generations. It is available in English, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun, with Inuit words and expressions from multiple dialects woven throughout the English edition.
Additionally, to mark World Food Day, Agnico Eagle produced a short documentary-style video featuring footage captured during a recent breakfast program visit at Leo Ussak Elementary School in Rankin Inlet. The video explores the role school food programs play in supporting student well-being while highlighting the cultural knowledge, traditions, and shared experiences that shape food in Nunavut.
Agnico Eagle, founded in 1957, is committed to sustainable practices and has been a partner of choice within the mining industry. The company's approach to supporting student success in Nunavut is part of its broader commitment to the communities in which it operates.