Military deploys to Hall Beach, Resolute
Annual Operation Nunalivut tests ability to operate in extreme cold
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Monday, February 20, 2017
SANIRAJAK/HALL BEACH
The Canadian Armed Forces will launch its annual High Arctic winter exercise this week in Resolute and Hall Beach, involving about 350 people.
Canadian Ranger David Suqslak of Pond Inlet stands beside a snowmobile flying a Canadian Ranger flag during Operation Nunalivut on Little Cornwallis Island last year. The operation this year will be held in Resolute and Hall Beach. - NNSL file photo |
The bulk of the activities for Operation Nunalivut will take place around Hall Beach.
"We hope to demonstrate our ability to operate within an extreme cold weather environment," said Lt.-Col. Timothy Halfkenny, the deputy chief of staff of operations and plans with Joint Task Force North in Yellowknife.
"Part of that is survivability, part of that is even getting there and then operating under Arctic conditions," said Halfkenny, who was task force commander for the operation last year.
The operation runs from Feb. 22 to March 10, though he said the military typically takes about a week before and after for preparation and clearing the areas involved. Last year, the operation was held in April, mainly around Resolute and Little Cornwallis Island.
The exercise, held each year since 2007, provides military members from various parts of the country a chance to train in the Arctic and build cultural connections with those living in the communities.
Halfkenny said they aim to be self-sufficient so they don't need to tap into community resources.
Members from 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group will be joined by military members from a number of units based in southern Canada as well as members of a Royal Canadian Navy dive team and the RCMP's dive team.
While the operation has included a diving element for several years, Halfkenny said the inclusion of the RCMP is a first.
Mike Stephens, Resolute's senior administrative officer, said the community is used to the military being in the area.
"It doesn't really impact the community because they usually stay up at the polar shelf up by the airport, though we see them coming in and out of the store," he said.
Stephens, who said he's a master diver, said part of the operation includes dives with the military and RCMP though he regretted hearing the exercise was happening when he'd be out of town.
"Darn! I'd have someone to dive with - no one else here dives," he said.
He hasn't had an opportunity to dive while living in Resolute since he doesn't want to do it alone.
Halfkenny said part of the exercise involves a day to build community relations by showing off equipment, providing community members with some food and a hot drink.
Hall Beach will also see another benefit: a plane flying north from Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario that would have otherwise been empty will carry playground equipment for the community, Halfkenny said, instead of having it brought by sealift.
Communities near where the operation is held can see other benefits, he said, such as when the military contracts out food services or accommodations.
Last year, the cost of staging the operation was estimated at about $1.5 million.
