Sun shines for Armed Forces
Joint Task Force North busy at Eureka on Ellesmere Island in June
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, June 27, 2016
ELLESMERE ISLAND
Pleasant weather is making Joint Task Force North's repair and maintenance operations at Eureka a smooth ride this year.
A CH-146 Griffon helicopter from 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, flies over the majestic mountain range of Ellesmere Island en route to D'Iberville Fiord June 14 during Operation Nevus. - photo courtesy of PO2 Belinda Groves, Task Force Imagery Technician |
"We've been very fortunate with the state of the weather," said Operation Nevus Task Force Commanding Officer Maj. Meagan McGrath. "That has helped us be able to achieve our task, it has kept morale very good for our team and it's been beautiful to see Ellesmere Island with the sun shining."
Throughout June her team with Operation Nevus and other Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been performing essential maintenance on the High Arctic Data Communications System (HADCS) between Eureka and Alert.
Operation Nevus involved technicians from the Canadian Forces Information Operations Group, military members from the Mapping and Charting Establishment and personnel and aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The maintenance procedures support wider Canadian efforts to improve Northern surveillance and reconnaissance and demonstrate a visible presence in Canada's Arctic.
"We enjoy a warm facility with some great food, laundry facilities and this is the building that our team works out of for the duration of Op Nevus," said McGrath, phoning in from structures referred to as Fort Eureka by the Armed Forces.
Maintenance operations on the communications system have been carried out annually since 1982, when the system first became operational.
"I am proud of our men and women in uniform and DND civilians, who have deployed on Operation Nevus," stated Brig.-Gen. Mike Nixon, Commander, Joint Task Force North, in a news release.
"Their individual and collective efforts are essential to maintaining critical Government of Canada infrastructure on Ellesmere Island. They also have the opportunity to experience the unique environment found only in the High Arctic."
