Outi Snellman, UArctic’s Director of Administration and University Relations, and the Honourable Joan Beatty, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Northern Affairs, jointly cut the ribbon to open the IAO at Northlands College on September 13, 2006.  
 
Many dignitaries, students and educators were in attendance at the grand opening of the IAO.  In her address, Outi Snellman noted the significance of the IAO’s move. “Today La Ronge and Northlands College become a part of a network of eleven UArctic offices.  Eleven institutions in the North administer UArctic programs and administration, so this is a very important moment for UArctic, but it’s also an important moment for Saskatchewan; it puts Saskatchewan and La Ronge one step further on the Circumpolar map.”
 
Minister Beatty also emphasized the importance of the internationalization of Northlands College “Usually, when I say the North, I mean northern Saskatchewan. Today, that word has a whole new meaning.  UArctic represents institutions and students from northern regions all around the top of the globe.”
 
The IAO moved to La Ronge on September 1, 2006 from its former host, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.  With this move, UArctic says goodbye to Diana Thomson.  As the inaugural coordinator of the IAO, Diana did a tremendous job in building partnerships and facilitating credit transfer among UArctic partner institutions.  Upon leaving UArctic, she and her partner, Mike, moved to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, in August.  Diana’s dedication and personal commitment to the values and goals of UArctic will be missed.  UArctic now welcomes Karla Hardcastle as the IAO’s Academic Coordinator and Glenys Plunz as the new Director of the International Academic Office.