Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 17, 2007

NUNAVUT - It's not easy being away from home for the holidays.

But while the cost of a plane ticket might be putting a damper on some Nunavummiut's travel plans, folks can still speak to their families virtually, through Telehealth's televisitation program.

Clerk interpreter Sandra Qamanirq works the video monitor at the Arctic Bay health centre. Residents can connect with family members throughout the territory with the help of the Department of Health and Social Services' Telehealth televisitation program over the holidays. - photo courtesy of Sandra Qamanirq

"It's really helpful for the families, when they haven't seen each other for a while," said Sandra Qamanirq, clerk interpreter at the Arctic Bay health centre.

Health centres across Nunavut are now booking times to visit with loved ones via videoconferencing, for 30 minutes at a time, as often as needed.

The Department of Health and Social Services launched Telehealth in 1999, with family visitation as one of its core programs.

For most of the year, the service is used for prenatal visits, or to connect doctors, specialists, counsellors and the like to communities throughout the territory.

The Christmas visitation tradition began in 2005, at the request of a handful of elders who had not seen their families for many years.

"They were so excited to see their family members in different communities," Qamanirq recalled.

Last Christmas, residents across the territory logged nearly 500 hours of virtual visits, to laugh, tell stories and share their news.

"Everyone says that when you're feeling down, when you're feeling sick, there's no magic pill. But I think talking to your family is," said Tina McKinnon, director of health information, which oversees the Telehealth program.

And when words aren't quite enough... "Sometimes, if they're unsure of what to say, they just pause and look at each other," Qamanirq said.