BBE has been moving freight in and out of Inuvik for more than 30 years. 10 years ago, we made that commitment formal. In October 2016, BBE and Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) formed Inuvialuit BBE Expediting Ltd. (IBX), a partnership built to serve Canada’s Western Arctic with local ownership, local knowledge and BBE’s broader logistics network behind it.
Three Decades in Inuvik
Working in Inuvik teaches you to plan around the calendar as much as the map. The Dempster Highway closes during freeze-up and break-up while the Peel and Mackenzie river crossings switch between ferry and ice. Barge season is short. Air freight fills the gaps, at a cost that rewards careful consolidation.
BBE has been operating in the North since 1977, but its history in Inuvik evolved from a company called Marine Air Cargo. BBE and Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC), purchased this entity, underwent a restructuring, and then eventually created IBX BBE Expediting ten years ago, a joint venture partnership between IDC and BBE. What we needed was a structure that gave the region a direct stake in that work. IDC, a 100% Indigenous-owned company serving the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea region, brought regional relationships, business knowledge and a long-term economic mandate. IBX combined the two.
Why Inuvik Matters Today
Inuvik has always been a supply hub for the Beaufort Delta. It is now also central to Canada’s Arctic defence plans.
- NORAD Forward Operating Location. Inuvik is one of four in Canada, alongside Yellowknife, Iqaluit and Goose Bay.
- Northern Operational Support Hub. In March 2025, the Department of National Defence named Inuvik, with Iqaluit and Yellowknife, as one of its first Northern Operational Support Hubs.
- Runway extension. DND is investing up to $230 million to extend the Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport runway to 9,000 feet and modernize its lighting, navigation and military landing systems.
- Arctic Infrastructure Fund. In August 2026, Transport Canada committed up to $49.5 million to upgrade the existing runway and access road.
Each of these projects needs materials, equipment and people moved into a place with long distances, extreme cold and narrow shipping windows. That is the work IBX was built for. BBE has already put it into practice for defence: during Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT 2025 in Inuvik, BBE ran ground logistics and coordinated commercial charters for Canadian and allied forces.
What Indigenous Partnership Means for Project Teams
For government agencies and prime contractors, Indigenous participation is a requirement in a growing share of Northern contracts. The federal government has set a target to award at least 5% of the total value of its contracts to Indigenous businesses. Northern programs increasingly weigh how much benefit stays in the region.
IBX gives project teams a logistics partner with Inuvialuit ownership built into its structure, local presence in Inuvik, and BBE’s freight forwarding, customs, air charter and procurement capabilities behind it. IBX is one of several Indigenous partnerships BBE operates across the North. See all our Indigenous partners.
“The future of the Western Arctic will depend on reliable logistics, strong regional partnerships and the ability to move people, materials and supplies where they are needed. IBX brings those elements together as a trusted business to support growth, infrastructure and opportunity across the region.” — Annie Steen, Chair, Inuvialuit Development Corporation
“BBE has spent decades building expertise in Northern and remote logistics, but expertise alone is not enough. The strongest solutions come from combining operational capability with local knowledge, relationships and meaningful participation.” — Heather Stewart, CEO, BBE
The Next 10 Years
The Western Arctic is heading into its busiest period of infrastructure and defence investment in decades. Projects will need partners who can plan around seasons, handle controlled goods, and deliver Indigenous participation that is real rather than nominal.
“Ten years is an important milestone, but it is also a foundation for what comes next. We are grateful to Inuvialuit Development Corporation for the trust and partnership we have built together, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen IBX and support future opportunities across the Western Arctic.” — Heather Stewart, CEO, BBE