The Bhanot family got an early lesson in cold Northern realities. The house they were to live in froze up the day before he arrived. He and his family were temporarily housed in the nurses' residence.

"They've fixed it up now," said Bhanot of the house, where his family now resides. "They did a really good job on it."

There were a number of reasons the doctor moved to Cambridge Bay.

"I had a very busy private practice (in Amherst, N.S.) that didn't leave me much time for my family. I needed a change of venue to be able to spend more time with my son and my wife," he said.

"I also wanted to see the Arctic, and find out about the people who live here."

Bhanot's job will provide plenty of opportunities to find out more about the North. Every five weeks he will be doing the rounds, flying to other Kitikmeot communities to attend to their ills.