From life in Florida to life in the Arctic
Inuvik-turned-Aklavik residents become Canadians at citizenship ceremony
Former Inuvik residents Pam and Larry Noland, who now call Aklavik home, were sworn in as Canadian citizens during a ceremony at the legislative assembly in Yellowknife on Aug. 21. - Emelie Peacock/NNSL photo
|
Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Thursday, September 7, 2017
INUVIK
A former Inuvik couple from Jacksonville, Florida officially became Canadians last month, nearly 11 years to the day they moved to the community.
"It's exciting," said Larry Noland, who now lives in Aklavik with his wife Pam.
He is the pastor there and she is the co-ordinator of the community's greenhouse.
The couple earned their citizenship during a swearing-in ceremony at the NWT legislative assembly in Yellowknife on Aug. 21.
The Nolands were two of more than 40 NWT residents from 18 different countries who sang the national anthem and recited an oath to become Canadian citizens that day.
While their family members couldn't attend the event, they did have friends from the NWT capital who came out to show their support, Larry said.
"It just feels very good to have that chapter closed," said Pam, who explained she's excited about the fact she won't have to fill out any more paperwork. "It's just done and that feels really good."
The Nolands moved to Inuvik from Florida on Aug. 31, 2006.
Larry served as the assistant pastor at the First Bible Baptist Church while Pam provided him with support in working with youth.
"We wanted to go where there was a real need," she said. "We had met some people who had been very involved in the ministry here in the '70s and '80s and there was just such a need for people to come North."
When the ice road opened that fall, the couple began travelling back and forth between Inuvik and Aklavik.
There was no pastor in the community and Larry decided to start holding services.
By the spring of 2007, he and his family had moved there full-time.
While his two sons are married now and live outside Canada, his daughter visits Aklavik when she's not away at university.
Not all ministers or pastors are keen on moving to the North, said Larry.
But the Nolands enjoy it.
"That was a desire of ours, to go to more of the remote places," he said. "It's a more traditional life."
Larry has been invited to go fishing and hunting and the couple now owns their own home there.
He and Pam have also gotten involved in the community.
His wife and daughter have tried out sewing and beading and he now serves as the community's fire chief.
"We enjoy the lifestyle. We enjoy living there," he said, although Pam added with a laugh that it's not the weather that has them hooked on life in the North.
"The ministry really is what keeps you there," she said. "Being involved with your people."
