Sheba Pikuyak recalled how excited her daughter was to leave her hometown of Sanirajak, Nunavut, and embark on a new adventure in a big city in hopes of one day becoming a nurse. Pikuyak said her daughter arrived in Ottawa on Thursday. The Inuk woman moved into a room in a house she found on Facebook and near Algonquin College, where she had just started studying in the pre-health science pathways program. Just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning, police responded to a 911 call reporting a woman who had been seriously stabbed and a man with a knife still inside the building at 34 Woodvale Green — a two-story house in southwest Ottawa. Police arrived at the scene to find Pikuyak dead from her injuries. The CBC has learned that police suspect she was also sexually assaulted. Sheba Pikuyak said investigators told her her daughter was stabbed to death by the accused, a 33-year-old man named Nikolas Ibey, who reportedly called police and surrendered to officers when they arrived. According to sources, Ibey was living as Pikuyak’s roommate when the stabbing happened. Pikuyak’s mother said the family did not know him and had not heard his name until that fateful Sunday.

‘Smart and bright’

Pikuyak is remembered by her mother as “smart and bright”. Her mother recalled how the young woman had taught herself knitting, crochet, beading and other crafts as a teenager. She was also an avid cook. An active member of her community with a keen interest in learning about Inuit culture, Pikuyak attended a Students on Ice program in Greenland and attended Nunavut Sivuniksavut, a post-secondary program specifically for Inuit youth, in Ottawa, according to her mother . Savanna Pikuyak, right, was a good cook, according to her mother Sheba Pikuyak. Savanna is pictured here with her older sister Geneva Pikuyak. (Submitted by Sheba Pikuyak) Her sarcastic daughter loved making people laugh, even when they were so far apart. On the morning of her death, Pikuyak was messaging her mother on Facebook, reminiscing about a joke they once shared. “We called her baby,” said Sheba Pikuyak, “So I asked her ‘Baby, how would you like your breakfast?’ And she was very sarcastic and replied ‘it didn’t burn,’” he said, still laughing at the memory. “He had this wonderful sense of humor.” After a quick exchange of messages, Sheba Pikuyak said she was busy making bannock and preparing a potluck for a family celebration. A few hours later, the police would call to tell her that her baby was dead. Nikolas Ibey, 33, reportedly called police and surrendered to officers when they arrived. (Facebook)

Found room via Facebook

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 34 Woodvale Green is owned by a numbered corporation registered to Ibey’s brother, Christopher Ibey, according to provincial property records. These records also show that the official closing date for the purchase of the home was not until August 31st of this year. Christopher Ibey operates a local security firm and other businesses in Ottawa, according to his LinkedIn profile. Attempts to reach Christopher Ibey Tuesday at the security company’s headquarters were unsuccessful. Savanna Pikuyak moved into a room in a house she found on Facebook near Algonquin College. The accused in her death was her roommate. (Facebook) A photo posted by other workers on social media shows Nikolas Ibey working at at least one of his brother’s companies. And it was Nikolas Ibey himself who posted Facebook ads for the Woodvale rooms as recently as Aug. 8 — before his brother officially bought the house — advertising the $750 room as available for monthly rent starting Aug. 25 . Ibey cited the home’s “proximity to Algonquin College” as a selling point. There was no answer Tuesday to a number listed for prospective tenants to call. In a statement to CBC, Algonquin College said it respects Pikuyak’s family’s request for privacy and is offering resources and counseling services to students and staff. The college declined an interview request to discuss off-campus housing and any safety concerns it has after the incident. Sheba Pikuyak says her family is now doing their best to cope with the devastating news. “She was truly extraordinary,” he said, “she had a heart of gold.”
Savanna Pikuyak’s death is the fifth homicide of a woman and the 10th overall in Ottawa in 2022. Sheba Pikuyak said goodbye to her daughter last week before she moved to Ottawa. This is a snapshot of her wishes for Savannah on Facebook. (Submitted by Sheba Pikuyak)