An Iglu & A Drill

School was cancelled for the morning of Monday, March 22, due to extreme cold.  When it comes to weather cancellations, the school follows Environment Canada’s weather website.  (The Weather Network isn’t good enough).  The website posted an extreme cold warning for the community and a temperature of -50°C.  That’s cold.  However, the sky was blue and the sun was shining brightly.  If there is no windchill, -50 is tolerable.  February is usually the coldest month of the year, but sometimes, I guess, March gets jealous and wants the same attention.  Up here, we don’t start thinking about cancelling school until the temperature dips below -40°C. 

Several teachers decided to go home for the morning after the cancellation was announced.  I chose to stay and get ahead in my work.  There’s always something to be done.  A co-worker informed me that someone built an iglu near the Northern Store.  I went down to the ice to investigate just after 11am.  I had my camera with me.   It was in my pocket, but I still held it because I didn’t want the battery to run out of power.  Batteries lose power a lot faster when exposed to extreme cold. 

I’m not sure who built the iglu, but they did a really good job.  Experienced builders are able to complete an iglu in an hour or less.  I got as close as I could and took pictures of snow structure from every angle I could think of.  I didn’t go inside because I was worried my large Canada Goose jacket would get stuck in the entrance and break off a piece.  I didn’t want to be known as that guy who damaged, or worse, collapsed an iglu.

Two large white camping tents had also been set up nearby.  They were being heated by propane tanks.  I assumed they were put there by the local Hunters & Trappers Organization, but I can’t be sure.  I could have gone inside to investigate, but I didn’t want to intrude.

I returned to school.  Classes resumed in the afternoon because the temperature increased by at least 10 degrees.                 

Two loaders plowed several patches of snow around the breakwater pier, and a wide path to the shoreline on March 25.  This would make it easier for large vehicles to drive onto the ice.  I thought they were a making skating rink or a large parking lot, but the real reason came on the afternoon of Friday, March 26.

I was walking home from school when I saw a large CAT loader slowly moving in reverse down the main street near the shoreline.  It was pulling a very large wooden box with no roof.  Workers were slowly walking on both sides directing the driver.  I passed the Northern Store to get a closer look at the operation.

There was another loader on the other side of the box pushing it.  I wondered how could a large wooden box require two loaders to move until I noticed the large metallic machine inside.  The machine was a Logan GeoTech drill.  The drill was being moved down to the ice where the snow had been cleared.  The machine will drill through the ice, into the ground beneath, and extract land samples.  The samples will be analyzed and used by the contractor chosen to build Arctic Bay’s new small craft harbour.  The project was announced by the federal government in 2019, part of the $190 million in infrastructure investments outlined in the Tallurutiup Imanga & Tuvaijuuittuq Agreements.  You can read more about them in my November 2019 post here.  (Clyde River was also selected for a small craft harbour).

Having a small craft harbour will greatly improve the lives of boaters in the community.  I have copies of the plans in my classroom and they look impressive.  Wooden docks to park boats, a loading & launching ramp, fixed wharf for larger vessels to dock & unload supplies, and another breakwater pier to protect boats from high waves.  The wharf will not be large enough to accommodate sealift ships so they’ll still have to anchor in the bay.  Construction is set to start this summer, but may get delayed to next year because of the ongoing pandemic.

This particular Logan GeoTech drill is a land-based drill so the drilling has to be done on the frozen ice.  If the workers waited until summer, they would have to use a drillship or barge.

The moving operation came to a brief halt in front of a pair of low hanging power lines.  The top of the drill was sticking out and was higher than the power lines.  A worker got a long wooden stick, climbed onto the drill, lied down, and then gently lifted the wires above the drill.  He held the wires as the two loaders slowly moved the drill underneath.  The loaders then stopped, letting the worker get off the drill.

I continued walking home, while the workers moved the drill onto the ice.  The drilling started on the weekend.  The wooden box protected the machine & workers from wind and cold temperatures.  It would also make it easier for the loaders to move the machine because there were several places to drill.

I photographed the drill in operation over the weekend.  The generator powering the machine was also enclosed in a wooden box.  A constant droning sound from the generator could be heard from the shoreline.  On Sunday, March 28, the workers used several blue tarps to add a roof.  I guess they needed an enclosed heated area around the drill to keep the machine from freezing.  The drilling will only last several days.

I don’t think the sled dogs out on the ice were bothered by the large mechanical contraption.  They probably howled along to the sounds it produced.  They mostly howl when its feeding time.  When the dogs are eating, ravens from all over town flock for a chance to get some of the food.  I photographed several large congresses of ravens hanging out with the dogs.  The two species seem to get along.                  

Army In Town

I heard several noises outside my place in the early evening of March 16.  The noises sounded like skidoos driving circles in the middle of the street.  I tried to ignore the sounds, thinking they weren’t important, but curiosity got the best of me and I went to a window to see what was happening.  I was right about the skidoos, but they weren’t doing donuts in the street.  They belonged to the Canadian Army and the soldiers driving them were parking the snow machines behind the RCMP house across the street.  Two pickup trucks also pulled up to the house.  I decided to step outside and see what was happening.

Frank had informed me the army was coming to the town and suggested I get in touch with the person-in-charge about having the soldiers speak to the cadets about what they were doing here.  The soldiers were in town for an Arctic survival training course, co-led by the Canadian Rangers.  The Rangers would be taking the soldiers out on the land and teaching them how to survive in Canada’s Arctic.  It appeared they would be using the RCMP house as a temporary barracks.  I guess there wasn’t any space at the hotel and former bed & breakfast.  On the other hand, I thought the house was already occupied by an RCMP officer.  I guess not.

The soldiers & Rangers had pulled 4 long qamutiks loaded with camping supplies & 20-litre gas cans.  The pickup trucks were packed with personal belongings.  I stood back and watched everything, minus the gas cans, be carried into the house.  There were a lot of gas cans.  I think they’re easier to handle instead of using large 45-gallon barrels.

I found the person-in-charge and introduced myself.  I asked him if the soldiers under his command had time the following night to come to cadets?  He replied that the possibility was very likely.  He also informed me that they would be coming to school tomorrow afternoon to talk to middle & high school students about the military.  He finished by adding that the cadet corps would receive leftover boxes of rations because he was given too many.  I didn’t protest because these would be the Canadian-made Individual Meal Packages (IMPs); way better than the American Meals Ready to Eat (MREs).

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t (really) celebrated in Arctic Bay.  The only significance it has is to give people an excuse to wear green.  March 17, 2021 occurred on a Wednesday.  I wore a green dress shirt and a Saskatchewan Roughriders tie.  (I’m not a huge fan of the team; it was the only green tie I had).  I pointed out to my students that the day marked the first year anniversary of Nunavut-wide shutdown of all schools and non-essential businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Hard to believe that a year has already gone by.  Aside from that, March 17 was just a regular day.  The soldiers did come to school and held a short presentation for the middle & high school students.

Six soldiers visited the cadet corps at 7pm.  The cadets sat in a semi-circle in the gym and the soldiers took turns introducing themselves, explaining how joined the armed forces, what they were doing in Arctic Bay & the surrounding area, and answering any questions.  At the end of the presentation, we all posed for a group photograph.  The cadets wanted the soldiers to stay for a game of basketball, but unfortunately, they couldn’t.  They were leaving tomorrow morning and needed to make sure everything was packed & ready.  Their schedule was packed training and long-distance traveling.  We thanked them for the visit.     

The First Shot

Monday, March 8, was like any other school day with one exception.  I finally received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine!  I didn’t brag or gloat to my students because the vaccine is still restricted to people 18 years and older.  I hope the restriction will be lowered and/or waived in the near future.  There are other vaccines available, but, so far, the Nunavut Government has only purchased & delivered Moderna to all the communities.

My appointment was booked in the evening.  March 8 was actually the first day of the vaccine clinic.  The clinic started in the morning and then paused in the afternoon for 3 hours because of a funeral.  (Afternoon classes were also cancelled). 

The weather had greatly improved since the blizzard on March 3.  I photographed kids playing out on the ice and sled dogs being fed by their owner.  The dogs bark loudly with excitement when it’s feeding time.

I arrived at the community hall at 7:15pm.  Everyone had to wear a facemask.  The people running the clinic requested that people wear short sleeve shirts to make it easier for the nurses to administer the vaccine.  I was greeted by a local resident running an attendance station.  She asked a few questions and checked my name on a list.  She then instructed me to head inside the hall.

The clinic occupied the entire community hall.  The area in front of the stage had been turned into a Waiting & Registration area.  There were already a few people ahead me, signing Vaccine Consent forms.  I was called next by a nurse after waiting a few minutes.  She went through a list of questions pertaining to the Moderna vaccine.  She wanted to know if I had any pre-existing conditions.  I answered no to all the questions and signed the form.  She then directed me to another nurse on the other side of the hall.

The second nurse briefly went over the Vaccine After Care Sheet, explaining possible side effects and what to do if they become severe.  I removed my outer clothing and instructed the nurse to inject the vaccine in my left arm.  Another nurse photographed the injection.  The process lasted less than a minute.

I thanked the nurses, collected my belongings, and moved to a different Waiting Area.  I was required to sit and wait for 15 minutes, just to make sure nothing bad happened.  I received a piece of paper stating my next appointment in April and a school safe cookie.  There was also juice available, but I wasn’t thirsty.

The 15-minute wait came and went.  I didn’t have a serious reaction to the vaccine.  I was free to leave.  I exited the community hall through a side door and walked home.

The only side effect I encountered was a slightly sore left arm for 2 days.

I’m now half protected against COVID-19.  I can’t wait to get my second dose in early April.  I encourage everyone to get vaccine as soon as possible.  The faster we reach herd immunity, the better.  Worldwide cases have already surpassed 100 million and are still increasing.  It’s been a year since the pandemic started and it’s beginning to look like COVID-19 will stay forever.  Similar to the flu shot, we’ll have to get an updated COVID-19 shot every year.  I hope I’m wrong.

It’s surprising how one virus can suddenly turn the whole world upside down in such a short period of time.            

 

Late February / Early March

February 21, 2021

Professional Development (PD) Week came to an end on February 19.  The three online courses I completed were alright.  The courses are offered by the American non-profit organization ASCD, and focus on special education, participation techniques, and how to teach students living in poverty.  Even though the courses primarily focus on the American education system, large portions of the content are applicable to Canada.

I was glad the courses were up-to-date, specifically the videos.  One course I took a few years ago had very old videos.  Unfortunately, a few of my coworkers ran into that problem this time around.  Hopefully, ASCD will update those courses.

I photographed Arctic Bay on February 21 while driving to school.  The sun was in the sky and shining brightly, so I didn’t want to pass the opportunity.  The only recent addition to the centre of town is the new Fire Hall. 

Classes resumed on February 22.  It was business as usual.  Some of my students had gone seal hunting during PD Week.  They had to wear thick layers of clothing to stay warm.  February is the coldest month.  The other students stayed in town.

It’s been 3 weeks since the Nuluujaat Land Guardians (NLG) ended their blockade at the Mary River Mine and they’re still waiting to meet Inuit organizations to discuss Baffinland’s plans to expand the mine. Nunatsiaq News reported that a spokeswoman for the NLG spoke with a representative from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc (NTI), but no date for a formal meeting has been set.  Hopefully, that will be done soon.  The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) has also been in contact with the NLG about holding a meeting.

Good news arrived at the end of February.  The Moderna vaccine finally arrived in the community.  Other communities had received the vaccine much earlier.  People were required to call the health centre to book an appointment.  My appointment is booked for March 8.  I can’t wait.  The vaccine clinic will be held at the community hall.      

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

The people of Arctic Bay woke up on March 3 to see their community enveloped by a blizzard.  Blizzards are rare in Arctic Bay, but they do happen every now & then.  The tall surrounding hills & mountains aren’t enough to completely shield us from the harsh Arctic wind.  School was cancelled for the entire day.

I went to school in the afternoon because I had class work to correct & I wanted to get ahead in lesson planning.  I walked because my skidoo was in the shop getting fixed.  The wind was still blowing strongly, forcing me to completely cover my head.  Ski goggles protected my eyes.  I took several pictures along the way.  I safely made it to school.  The blizzard was over by the evening.