Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 09/98) - To paraphrase Mark Twain -- reports of Wayne Davidson's death have been, well, greatly exaggerated.

The station manager at Environment Canada's weather station in Resolute Bay was shocked when he picked up News/North one day last September. Upon reading an article on his department's celebrations of 50 years operating stations in the North, he "learned" that his base had been closed.

Sitting in Resolute Bay, he was quite surprised to read this.

"The news of my non-existence is inaccurate," he said in a fax. "There is still Environment Canada staff in Resolute Bay...Thanks, but I'm still here."

Davidson also took time out for an interview last week and described his impressions after spending 13 years helping to operate High Arctic stations.

"I enjoy it a great deal," he said of his work. "I like the long nights, though I'm not a vampire or anything."

Originally from Toronto, Davidson spent a lot of time in Quebec before heading North. He also worked with Environment Canada at the department's stations in Hall Beach and Alert before taking up his present posting.

"The core of my work is doing balloon flying," he said. "They (the balloons help scientists) study the metrological components (of) the atmosphere."

Davidson also points out that Environment Canada is quite the pioneer when it comes to testing the ozone. They've been doing it since 1957, he says.

"Part of me is in there (in the data collected)." he said proudly.

Now married with children, Davidson says he is a big fan of community life in tiny Resolute Bay.

Besides Davidson's post, Environment Canada also still operates weather stations in Eureka and Alert.