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Accepted Contribution:

Infrastructure, Sustainability, and Transformation in Churchill, Canada   
Philipp Budka (University of Vienna)

Contribution short abstract:

By combining the findings from future scenario workshops with ethnographic insights, this paper examines how transport infrastructure sustains and transforms the town of Churchill in northern Manitoba, Canada.

Contribution long abstract:

Churchill, a remote community of 870 people on Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba, Canada, is renowned for its unique transport infrastructure. Inaccessible by road, it features Canada’s only Arctic Ocean deep-water port connected to the North American rail system. A large airport, originally built for military purposes, now supports a thriving tourism industry, earning Churchill the nickname “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” The town’s growth and identity are deeply tied to its transport infrastructure. Recent geopolitical developments, including the war in Ukraine, have spurred substantial federal and provincial investments to modernize the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill. For the first time, these critical infrastructures are under local ownership and control, offering both opportunities and challenges. Amid these changes, key questions emerge: How can Churchill achieve sustainability while relying on fragile infrastructures? What are the impacts of climate change and environmental crises on infrastructure, the economy, and everyday life in Churchill? To explore such questions, the ERC project InfraNorth, supported by the Town of Churchill, organized two scenario workshops in 2023. These events brought together residents and transport professionals to discuss and outline ideas for sustainable infrastructure development. By integrating findings from these workshops with ethnographic insights, this paper examines the role of transport infrastructure in sustaining and transforming Churchill. Using an anthropological lens, it critically evaluates the concept of “sustainability,” providing insights into resilience and adaptation in the (Sub)Arctic.

Workshop P023
Un/Commoning Sustainability and Its Temporalities