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Nunavut Justice Minister Keith Peterson, centre, cuts the ribbon at the Iqaluit women's jail Friday morning, along with Commissioner Edna Elias and Premier Eva Aariak. (Neville Crabbe/CBC) Nunavut's first correctional centre for women has officially opened in Iqaluit.
About 40 people gathered for an opening ceremony Friday at the new facility, which will eventually house up to eight women inmates.
The women's jail is located next to Nunavut's main jail, the Baffin Correctional Centre, which has been overcrowded with male inmates.
"Currently we have all our ladies that have to go to the Baffin Correctional Centre," Nunavut Justice Minister Keith Peterson said at Friday's ceremony.
"I took a tour there last year, in January last year. I saw how cramped and difficult it was for them to be in that facility."
Three women who are currently on remand at the Baffin Correctional Centre are expected to move into the new facility by the end of this month.
Designed to look more like a residence than a jail, the women's correctional centre has four rooms that can house two inmates each. There is also a large common area, with a full kitchen and television.
Staff say the new facility will also offer a variety of programs to its inmates. Currently, no programs are offered to women at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
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