A computer distribution program in Iqaluit, Nunavut, collects old laptops and repairs them for students and families to use. The program has been helping bridge the technology gap in Canada’s North while saving e-waste from ending up in landfills.

Since 2016, the Computers for Success Nunavut (CFSN) program has refurbished and distributed over 1,000 computers across Nunavut. The program offers digital skills and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) learning across Nunavut to ensure everyone in the community can access technology and connectivity. The CFSN program supports all Nunavummiut in need of a computer.

According to a study by the University of Waterloo in 2023, electronic waste in Canada has tripled since 2000. In Iqaluit, individuals have been working from the Ampere office to fix laptops that might otherwise be thrown away. With more devices being donated for refurbishing, fewer devices end up in the dump, and more people gain access to a working computer.

The local program has grown from fixing about 100 laptops a year to more than 1,000 devices annually. The laptops that cannot be fixed are taken apart for spare parts and recycled properly, so nothing goes to waste. The program has helped reduce electronic waste while making technology more accessible for many in the community.

Source: Bianca McKeown, CBC