IQALUIT - To show the city's appreciation for their efforts over the past winter, Deputy Mayor Simon Nattaq awarded Iqaluit's search and rescue crew with a certificate to keep in the wildlife office where search and rescue operations are headquartered.

"On behalf of the City of Iqaluit I would like to thank you unpaid volunteers who come out on all kinds of weather," said Nattaq in Inuktitut. "You go out all night no matter how bad the weather."

Nattaq talked about how many organizations come together for search and rescue operations, such as the emergency medical office, the RCMP, firefighters, the wildlife office and the City of Iqaluit, which offers its space when needed.

He also thanked the general public, who have often provided food for searchers to take with them on the land.

Nattaq specially recognized Jimmy Noble Jr. for years of service as the chair of the search and rescue committee.

Nattaq said council was acknowledging the efforts not just of the volunteers who go out on the land, but also of those who provide the logistical support, such as alerting searchers, managing the fuel and electronics gear and staffing the wildlife office 24 hours a day while a search is underway.

The longest search of this year so far took six days, according to RCMP Sgt. Jimmy Akavak, who co-ordinates the RCMP's part of search and rescue operations.

In addition to thanking the volunteers, Nattaq said the award was also to raise awareness in Iqaluit of the constant need for volunteers when a search and rescue operation is necessary.