Operation Spring Fix 24 – Part 1

Operation Spring Fix (OSF) finally returned after a 4-year absence.  It’s a fancy name for a weekend field training exercise (FTX) the army cadets of 3045 participate in late May.  The purpose of an FTX is to give cadets the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned at the corps level out in the field.  There are lessons specifically made for FTXs, such as, safe camping, map & compass, fieldcraft, wilderness survival, hiking, first aid, predicting weather, and leading a group.  Cadets also participate in hunting and fishing, under guidance & supervision of the Canadian Rangers.  Rangers are also required for polar bear protection.

Planning for OSF24 began three months before the start of the FTX.  A fair amount of paperwork is required to receive approval from headquarters.  Some of these are schedules, equipment lists, travel plans, and safety plans.  I was relieved when I got the news that the FTX had been approved.  Headquarters mailed several Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) boxes while I worked with the local Rangers to procure skidoos, qamutiks, and gas.  The cadets assisted me in gathering the necessary corps equipment.  The cadets received a kit list of what to bring for the trip.

The FTX began on Friday, May 24, in the early evening.  The cadets & adult staff assembled out on the ice in front of the Northern Store to pack the 3 qamutiks (sleds).  It took about 45 minutes.  Three qamutiks sound like a lot but unfortunately, it wasn’t.  We had to leave several items behind, deemed non-essential, because there’s wasn’t enough space.  If my old skidoo was working, we could have gotten another driver to pull a 4^th qamutik.

The most senior cadet assembled the cadets to take roll call.  Once that was done, I did a quick welcome briefing and explained how we would proceed to the camp site.  The driving would last several hours.  The cadets were dismissed to find empty spots on the qamutiks.  The skidoos were fired up and the convoy proceeded south towards Uluksan Point.  We briefly stopped to do a final check of our gear and then continued southwest, across the Adams Sound, towards Admiralty Inlet.  It was at this time I found out my new skidoo wasn’t as strong as I thought it was.

My skidoo causing problems.

I bought a 600 EFI Backcountry Skidoo in late November 2022.  This was my first time using the machine to pull a fully loaded qamutik.  I had removed a side panel to expose the exhaust pipes & engine to the cold weather for additional cooling.  Well, that wasn’t good enough.  A loud beeping noise sounded, informing me the engine had reached a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius.  I slowed the snowmobile, not sure what to do, and then the engine shut off automatically.  The skidoo came to a halt and the qamutik I was pulling came within an inch to hitting the back of my skidoo.  Unlike my first skidoo, the 600 EFI is liquid cooled and doesn’t have a cooling fan.  As the convoy pulled up to check why I stopped, I made the mistake of opening the small liquid coolant tank.  The coolant inside was boiling and exploded outwards.  Thankfully, I stepped back in time and wasn’t burned.  I placed the cap back on and explained the situation to the Canadian Ranger.  He suggested I wait a few minutes and then drive ahead of the convoy at a faster speed.

The advice worked for a little bit, but I was forced to stop two more times before reaching the entrance of Admiralty Inlet.  I was not impressed by my skidoo’s performance and by this point I was contemplating abandoning it and picking it up at the end of the FTX.  The Ranger vetoed that idea because we couldn’t rely on 2 working skidoos.  He suggested that I pull a lighter packed qamutik.  The one I had been pulling was packed with MREs.  I agreed to give it a try.

The qamutik switch appeared to work as we entered Admiralty Inlet and a northern wind blowing in our direction was also a bonus.  I still had to keep a close eye on the engine temperature.  I had also been told to drive over deep snow because the tracks kick it up and cool the radiator.  I did whatever I could to keep my skidoo from overheating because our final destination was 70km south of Arctic Bay.

The convoy stopped halfway for a tea & snack break.  The stop is near a well-known area where an ice crack forms, just to the north of Levasseur Inlet.  I’ve written about it in previous posts.  There was no visible ice crack this time, just endless kilometres of white snow & ice.  Another convoy of skidoos & qamutiks pulled up behind us as we were resting.  They were families also heading towards the same lake we were.  We chatted, and shared tea, hot chocolate, and snacks.

We continued driving for another few hours, following the main skidoo trail south.  I constantly looked in all directions: ahead, at the engine temperature, and behind me, making sure I was still pulling a qamutik, and the cadets were still on it.  We eventually drove off the main trail and ice and arrived at Ijuyuarjuk.  The cadets & I have previously camped here in 2016 & 2018.  The landlocked lake was completely frozen.  We parked in the near centre of the lake which is solid ground.  The lake looks U-shaped on Google Maps.  I was relieved my skidoo made it and was still in one piece.

Inside an Iglutaq.

We spent the next hour setting up the tents.  The time was 11:15pm but the sun was still shining.  It’s 24-hour daylight in late May.  I chose to sleep inside a wooden iglutaq attached to a qamutik because we had only brought one Arctic green tent.  The male cadets managed to squeeze into it with the help of two cots.  The Ranger and his wife, and a hired adult driver had their own tents.  I made two mental notes for next year: make sure to have 4 skidoos & qamutiks and pack at least 2 green tents. 

I didn’t mind having to sleep inside an iglutaq; in fact, I had wanted to try it out for a long time.  I removed everything inside and placed an air mattress & my sleeping bags on the wooden floor.  It would be my sleeping cubicle for the night.  Well, actually day. 

Fishing until 1am.

I held another briefing with the cadets, welcoming them to Ijuyuarjuk, and going over the basic FTX rules.  We all had to be on our best behaviour because other families were present.  Some had already drilled holes in the ice for fishing.  I let the cadets stay up until 1am to jig for fish.  Then they went to bed.  They would need their rest.

Saturday was going to be a busy day for everyone.       

                                                                    To Be Continued . . . 

Spring Camp, Cabin, & Upcoming FTX

Inuujaq School held its annual Spring Camp during the week of May 6 – 10.  The week-long event sees all staff & students head out to a designated camp site on scheduled days to participate in a range of on the land activities that reflect Inuit culture & heritage.  Planning began in March with the school’s Events Committee holding weekly meetings to iron out all the details.  If I had to summarize the main parts, they would be staffing, food, safety, transportation, scheduling, equipment, communication, and activities. 

The school hires drivers & Elders as additional staff.  Drivers ferry participants & equipment to & from the camp site and the Elders instruct students.  The main mode(s) of transportation are snowmobiles & qamutiks (sleds).  Teachers mostly provide added supervision but are permitted to prepare backup activities.  School Administration orders a week’s worth of food from the local Co-op.  The quantity is a lot because we must feed around 300 people over 5 days.  Safety is very important because risks & dangers are present out on the land.  The two at the top of the list are polar bears & snowmobile accidents.  Only drivers & Elders are permitted to carry firearms.  The Events Committee takes great care in crafting a well detailed safety plan.  Classes visit the camp site on different days, making management, supervision, and food distribution easier.  Visits start with high school classes and then descend in order.  Various communication methods are employed to keep the school & camp site in constant contact.  We use VHF radios, instant messaging, satellite phones, and the snowmobile drivers as a last resort.

The Events Committee held a meeting before the start of Spring Camp with the hired drivers & Elders to go over everything.  I led the meeting, and it was informative & productive.  Some of the activities taking place would be: seal hunting & harvesting, fishing, sewing, cooking, Bannock making, dog sledding, qamutik maintenance, and Inuit games.  The drivers & Elders agreed to head out to the campsite over the weekend to set up the tents. 

Classes headed down to the ice in front of the school at 9am, carrying their belongings, and food from the school kitchen.  The convoy of skidoos & qamutiks would be waiting for them.  The drivers & students packed the qamutiks evenly.  Students & staff then got onto the qamutiks after attendance was taken.  The convoy then proceeded south towards the campsite, located about 12km out of town.  It’s far enough to give the feeling of being out on the land, but close enough to town in case of emergencies.  Students & staff were brought back to Arctic Bay by 4:30pm.  This process repeated every day during the week.  I would have attended the first day with high school students, but I had to stay behind and assist running the school as acting vice-principal.  However, Friday, May 10, the last day of Spring Camp, was reserved for Inuujaq School staff.  Students got the day off from school and a 3-day weekend.

Staff assembled out on the ice at 9:30am.  I brought my own skidoo & an extra filled gas can for the day trip.  My backpack was filled with day supplies.  Once attendance was taken, staff found empty spots on qamutiks.  The drivers brought their skidoos to life and the drive to the campsite began.  The drive took about 20 minutes.  I mostly followed the convoy but raced ahead at one point and stopped to take pictures of the passing convoy.  I let the convoy pass and then drove to catch up.  I stopped in front of the camp site, snapped landscape photos and then drove off the ice.

The campsite consisted of 5 tents of various sizes.  The head of the local District Education Authority (DEA) called for everyone to assemble in a circle.  She officially welcomed everyone to Spring Camp and thanked them for their hard work throughout the year.  An Elder said a prayer for the day to go well and then the circle was allowed to disperse.

Staff were given time to hang out with the Elders outside and/or visit them in tents.  I watched one carving a doll out of wood using her ulu knife.  Several staff members played a boardgame made by the woodshop teacher.  A Canadian North plane flew above us after 11am, heading towards the airport to land.  It was around this time I started to feel unwell.  I’m not sure what brought it on, but I retreated into one of the tents and laid down to rest.  I managed to get some sleep, but it didn’t stop the migraine from forming.  In the end, I decided to head home.  I apologized to staff, hopped on my skidoo and carefully drove home.  I safely made it and headed inside to sleep.  The migraine subsided the following day.  Unfortunately, I missed out on seal hunting & fishing.  There’s always next year.

Overall, Spring Camp was a success.  Students & staff had fun out on the land and learned new things. 

The annual Fishing Derby happened over the Victoria Day Weekend.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to participate or head outside to document it.  I really need to set time aside for this event, even if I’m not a fisherman.  It’s great to watch.  The challenge is driving out to the fishing lakes.  The closest one is at least a 2-hour drive by skidoo.

Sorry about the blurriness.

I saw a cabin on the move on May 22.  Well, it was being moved by a CAT loader.  The driver carefully lowered the completed cabin onto a qamutik near the shoreline in front of the Northern Store.  The driver had a spotter helping him.  Three large wooden logs lay on the qamutik to support & distribute the weight of the cabin.  My guess is the cabin will be moved to a camp site or fishing lake.

Looking ahead, this coming weekend is going to be exciting, because I’ll be heading out on the land with the army cadets for a field training exercise (FTX).  The spring FTX has finally returned!  More on this trip when I come back.

Long Service Awards & ACR Parade

Government of Nunavut (GN) representatives came to Arctic Bay to award GN Long-Term Service Certificates to local GN employees in a public ceremony at the local community hall on May 6.  GN employees receive public recognition for their dedicated years of service in 5-year increments.  Additional gifts & honours are included at times.  Many local GN employees were invited to attend the ceremony, including me & several teachers.

The GN Long-Term Service Awards began at 7pm.  The emcee opened with a speech welcoming everyone, thanking the local GN workers for their hard work & dedication, and congratulating them for the certificates they were about to receive.  The mayor of Arctic Bay spoke next, mentioning similar points, and adding he was proud of the GN workers’ accomplishments.  The Minister of Human Resources, David Akeeagok, and the Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Kristie Cronin, were present and offered their personal congratulations.

The ceremony continued with the Awards Presentation.  The first batch of recipients were the GN workers who completed 5 years of service.  The next batch were the workers who completed 10 years of service.  I was one of them.  To be honest, I didn’t have a 10-year plan before moving to Nunavut.  I originally thought I would stay, maybe, 5 years and then go somewhere else, but that didn’t happen.  I have no regrets staying longer.  I’m now thinking I’ll reach 20 years of GN service in Arctic Bay.  Only time will tell. 

There were a few people who received certificates for 15 years of service.  One recipient, a high school teacher, received a certificate for 30 years of GN service.  She received an extended applause from the audience.  The last certificate went to the Grade 1 teacher who has worked for the GN for 45 years as an educator!  She too received an extended applause and many personal congratulations from the GN hosts.

The last parts of the ceremony were the door prizes draw and closing statements from the presenters.  Everyone went to the refreshments table after that.  A few people congratulated me for my decade of service.  I stayed a little bit and ate a few snacks before making my exit.

3045 Army Cadet Corps held its Annual Ceremonial Review (ACR) Parade on May 8.  It’s similar to a Parents Night Parade but with more awards, badges, promotions, and announcements.  It’s the year-end parade before summer.  Most corps hold their ACRs in June, near the end of the school year, but we hold ours a month or two early because most people are out camping in late spring.  That and our school year finishes in early June.

The cadets & I arrived an hour before the parade to set everything up in the gym.  The cadets changed into their uniforms when everything was ready.  The cadet parade commander took attendance and sized the cadets before the start of the parade.  Once the audience & guest reviewing officer (GRO) arrived, I signaled for the ACR to begin.

The GRO was the mayor of Arctic Bay: Olayuk Naqitarvik.  I escorted him into the gym while the cadets stood at attention.  He received the General Salute and was escorted through the ranks by the cadet parade commander.  I did a short welcome speech while the mayor inspected the cadets on parade.  The cadets did a March Past after the inspection.  The mayor did a short speech, thanking the corps for inviting him, and congratulating the cadets for another successful year.

The mayor assisted me in awarding badges.  There were many to give out.  I first called up the marksmanship team to receive their Stage 3 competition pins.  The cadet coach received a t-shirt.  I then called out the cadets from each training level to receive star training badge.  The Canadian cadet program uses coloured stars for training years.  They’re organized into Green, Red, Silver, Gold, and Master. 

Next came the year end awards.  The first was the Most Improved Cadet.  The lucky recipient gets their name placed on a large plaque.  The next award was Best Boots & Deportment.  This went to the cadet who wore their uniforms to the highest degree.  Next were the top female & male athletes.  They were selected based on the high scores they achieved from physical training tests.  The top three cadets with the highest attendance for the year received t-shirts.  The final award is the Top Cadet Award.  This went to the cadet with the highest training results, best uniform & deportment, taking initiative, assisting other cadets, and displaying leadership qualities. 

Promotions were the last part of the Awards Section.  Six junior & senior cadets received promotions.  They were very glad to be advancing in the ranks. 

The parade concluded with an Advance in Review Order & General Salute.  I escorted the mayor out of the gym and the parade came to an end.  I thanked the mayor again for his participation and joined the cadets for a group photo.  The after-parade reception lasted about 20 minutes.  The cadets then helped me clean up the gym.  I congratulated the cadets for a job well done and then dismissed them for the night.