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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Born in Leicester, England, in 1924, Bishop John Sperry served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1946 on destroyer, escort and convoy duty.

Sperry immigrated to Canada in 1950 to serve the Anglican Church in Kugluktuk and went on to work in Ft. Smith.

Bishop John Sperry has spent many years in the North. He is still active in the Anglican Church, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Rangers Division of Joint Task Force North. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo

He served as diocesan bishop from 1973 to 1990, and wrote a book called Igloo Dwellers Were my Church, published in 2001. In 2002 he was awarded the Order of Canada.

In retirement he is still involved with the Rangers Division of Joint Task Force North and the Anglican Church. He usually goes to the Legion on Tuesdays to have coffee with other veterans in Yellowknife.

Yellowknifer sat down with him recently to talk about what he has been up to lately.

Yellowknifer: What brought you to Canada in the beginning?

Bishop John Sperry: I came really to work for the church in Canada in the North. My main aim was to work in a church in the North as a missionary.

YKER: How long have you been in the North?

BJS: I started in 1950. I have been in the North ever since. Not all in the Arctic proper. Until I retired when I was 70 I was a bishop travelling throughout the Arctic.

YKER: You're retired now. What have you been doing lately?

BJS: I'm still a minister of sorts. When I'm invited to the Anglican Church I will occasionally preach when I am asked.

YKER: Why do you go to the Legion on Tuesdays?

BJS: I usually go when I am available because I am a veteran. There are very few (Second World War) veterans left and we gather for coffee every Tuesday morning. There are only two of us left.

YKER: What were the high points of your experience in the North?

BJS: The happier memories of Northern work was in the years that most of the Inuit from Coppermine lived in small camps hunting and when the culture was very strong, when the young people learned and spoke the language and because it was the language of their grandfathers. Contact from the south was occasional and many of the influences from the south that crept into Northern life were not present.

YKER: How did you handle the culture shock when you arrived?

BJS: Coming to an Arctic culture there had to be a great deal of adjustment and learning. I also had to learn an entirely different language as a clergyman. Everything was educational for a long time. It continued to be throughout my life in many different ways. When you travel with the people you have to move to what they are eating and it was always good for me. When you first go you are just as incapable as a child. I had to learn to work with the challenges of snow and dog teams.

YKER: What are your plans for the future?

BJS: I'm 84-years-old so I don't have 30 years to plan for. I have macro-degeneration in my eyes. The Legion bought me a machine so that I can read. When I meet people I can't recognize them unless they speak. Apart from that I am not doing bad for my age. I have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren so that proves that I am not young anymore.

YKER: How did you feel when you received the Order of Canada?

BJS: I was surprised. It was because of my work with aboriginal people. I translated different parts of Scripture. I was involved with the culture. The Governor General was up, they must have been looking for someone to honor. All the people who educated, helped and travelled with me share the award with me.