Salluit, Quebec, is a remarkable Inuit community nestled in the northernmost reaches of Canada. This unique settlement, located on Sugluk Inlet near the Hudson Strait, is the second northernmost Inuit community in Quebec. Known formerly as Sugluk, Salluit is home to a population of 1,483 according to the Canada 2016 Census. The community is not accessible by road, but can be reached by air through the Salluit Airport. The name "Salluit" translates to "The Thin Ones" in Inuktitut, a poignant reminder of a time when the local inhabitants faced starvation due to a scarcity of wildlife.
The history of Salluit, Quebec, dates back to 1925 when an independent trader established a trading post on the site of the present-day community. The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) soon followed suit, setting up its own post on the far shore of Sugluk Inlet. However, the HBC post was relocated to Deception Bay, approximately 53.5 km to the east, shortly after its establishment.
In 1930, the HBC built a store in what is now Salluit, closing its Deception Bay post two years later. The thriving fur trade of the time came to an abrupt end around 1936 when pelt prices plummeted.
The 1930s also saw the establishment of a Catholic mission in Salluit, which operated for about twenty years. An Anglican mission replaced it in 1955. The Government of Canada opened a day school in the community in 1957, leading to an increase in public services and a growing Inuit population settling around the village.
The first residential houses in Salluit were built in 1959, and a co-operative store was established by the residents a decade later. Salluit officially became a municipality in 1979. Since 1996, the Kativik Regional Police Force has been providing police services in Salluit.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Salluit, Quebec, had a population of 1,580 living in 426 of its 473 total private dwellings. This represents a 6.5% increase from its 2016 population of 1,483. With a land area of 15.08 km2 (5.82 sq mi), Salluit had a population density of 104.8/km2 (271.4/sq mi) in 2021.
