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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson will be one of six stops on an outreach tour conducted by Brig.-Gen. Guy Hamel, commander of Joint Task Force North.

Brig.-Gen. Guy Hamel, front left, shakes hands with Canadian Ranger Ernest Lomen while Chief Warrant Officer Gilles Laroche, back left, talks with Ranger Gilbert Lamalice during an outreach tour stop in Trout Lake last February. - NNSL file photo

Hamel will be travelling to Lutsel K'e, Fort Resolution and Fort Smith on Feb. 9 and then visiting Wekweeti, Tulita and finally Fort Simpson on the following day. Three to four outreach tours are conducted every year by the commander of Joint Task Force North (JTFN), said Capt. Sandra Levesque, a public affairs officer with JTFN.

"The most important thing is for him to meet with leadership and meet the people under his command," she said.

The tours allow the commander to strengthen relationships with people in the communities and to learn more about the communities JTFN might be called to assist in case of an emergency, said Levesque. Commanders of JTFN hold the position for two years. During that time they try to reach each of the communities in the region JTFN is responsible for with Canadian Ranger patrols, Junior Canadian Ranger patrols or cadet corps.

JTFN is responsible for the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, an area of approximately four million square kilometres or one-third of Canada's land mass, said Levesque. Fifty-nine of the communities in the region have Canadian Ranger patrols.

"We try to hit ever community every two years," she said.

Hamel, whose term as commander ends in June, has visited approximately 35 communities. During his last outreach tour in October, he visited 10 communities in five days.

Visiting all of the communities is a big challenge, said Levesque. The communities Hamel doesn't get to will be the first the new commander will visit, she said.

During this two-day tour, Hamel will be meeting with Canadian Rangers, Junior Canadian Rangers and cadets. He will also meet with mayors, community leaders and elders where possible.

In Fort Simpson, Hamel is scheduled to have supper with Mayor Sean Whelly, Sebastien Goyer, the village's senior administrative officer, and a representative from the RCMP.

At 7 p.m., Hamel is scheduled to watch a parade conducted by the 2860 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps.

The outreach tours are a good opportunity for communities to ask questions about the Canadian Ranger program and to request the creation of a new Canadian Ranger or Junior Canadian Ranger patrol, said Levesque.

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