The Diocese is headed by the Bishop, who also chairs the Synod of the Diocese of Arctic. The synod is a governing membership body comprised of all clergy and elected lay members.
The Anglican Diocese of the Arctic is an Anglican diocese which administers the parishes within its jurisdiction. The Diocese of the Arctic was formed in 1933 and incorporated in 1961. The diocese was formed by consolidating area from four predecessor dioceses: Yukon (formerly Selkirk), Keewatin, Moosonee, and Mackenzie River. The Diocese of Rupert’s Land covered everything between Upper Canada and British Columbia, including the North before it was subdivided in 1874 into the three dioceses of Athabasca, Moosonee and Saskatchewan. In 1884, the Diocese of Mackenzie River was created from the northwestern portion of Athabasca. The Diocese of Yukon was then formed in 1890 from territory belonging to the Diocese of Mackenzie River. In 1902, some of Moosonee’s area in northern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario was used to create the new Diocese of Keewatin. Finally, in 1933 the resultant four dioceses lost territory or were subsumed entirely by the new Diocese of the Arctic.
Since 1933, the Diocese of the Arctic has been involved in evangelizing, providing medical services and education in the North. The Diocese of the Arctic was responsible for the administration of Anglican Church residential schools across the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Nunavik (Northern Quebec) and the management of Fort George Residential School (Anglican) at Fort George, QC. The schools were often underfunded and overenrolled and former students have reported cultural, emotional, physical and sexual abuses.
During the 1990s, the public became more aware of the impacts of residential schools. This led to an increase in litigation against the Government of Canada, which culminated in the creation of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) in 2006. IRSSA outlined the process by which residential school litigation was carried out in addition to creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). The Anglican Church of Canada was a signatory of this agreement and was made to contribute $15,687,188 towards abuse claims and healing programs. Anglican leaders also worked extensively with the TRC to promote reconciliation and explain the Anglican's role in the Residential School System. The Diocese of the Arctic was not named in IRSSA.
Shingle Point Residential School was located within the boundaries of the Anglican Diocese of the Arctic.
All Saints Residential School was located within the boundaries of the Anglican Diocese of the Arctic.
Fleming Hall was located within the boundaries of the Anglican Diocese of the Arctic.
Stringer Hall was located within the boundaries of the Anglican Diocese of the Arctic.
The Federal Tent Hostel at Coppermine was located within the boundaries of the Anglican Diocese of the Arctic.
1905-1977