Tandem 7 & Euro Trip Part 1

I returned to Skydive Toronto in mid-June to complete my seventh tandem jump from an altitude of 12,500 feet.  My last jump was in 2022, so it was time to get reacquainted with the sensation of falling to Earth at terminal velocity.  I originally wanted to retake the solo skydive course I completed three years ago, but it’s no longer offered.  Only the Gradual Freefall and Progressive Freefall programs are available.  Both programs span the entire jumping season.  I don’t have a problem doing another tandem jump.  A jump is still a jump in my books.

I felt excited, nervous, and empowered, when I arrived at Skydive Toronto in the late morning.  The empowerment came from watching Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning at a movie theatre the day before.  I figured if Tom Cruise can survive doing dangerous stunts at his age, then I can survive another tandem jump.  Of course, I should point out again “there will never be a perfect skydive.”  There’s always a chance something can go wrong.  No continual insurance exists and everyone involved is responsible for the jump to be successful.

The first part of the experience is signing legal paperwork, having your weight taken, and completing a safety briefing.  Then it’s on to getting fitted for a jumpsuit and wait for your name to be called.  Remember to Dump Before You Jump.  (Go to the washroom).  I was fitted into a harness after my name was called.  My tandem instructor & cameraman also introduced themselves.  We proceeded to the propeller plane.  The plane was packed with other thrill seekers & tandem instructors.

The plane took off into the blue sky.  I quietly hummed the Mission Impossible theme as the plane ascended.  I find the 15-minute flight more tense than the actual jump because you have time to think.  Best to think about other things to distract you from the inevitable. 

The red signal light switched to green, and everyone put on their goggles.  My cameraman opened the side door, letting cold air into the fuselage.  He looked down located the landing zone.  He signaled me & my tandem instructor to move towards the open door.  The time had come.  I held onto my harness straps as my instructor quickly did his final checks.  The cameraman hung outside the plane.  And then all three of us were falling.

The jump/fall was exhilarating as always.  I don’t shout or scream because there’s no time.  I focus on breathing through my teeth.  I kept looking at the cameraman and periodically gave two thumbs up to say I’m okay.  The main parachute deployed after 45 seconds.  The cameraman continued falling for a few more seconds before deploying his parachute.  The descent to the landing zone was around 5 minutes.  The landing was a success.

I gave a quick a speech to the camera and then high-fived my instructor.  Another tandem jump in the books!  The laces on my shoes didn’t come loose.  I stayed a little longer after my jump to relax and take photographs of the establishment.  Here's the video of my 7^th jump.

The second highlight of my summer was the euro trip my dad & I took in July.  The primary destination was Switzerland, but the trip began in London, England, and moved through France.  Switzerland has been on my bucket list for years and I figured now was a good time to visit, especially with what’s been happening in the world.  My dad & I figured if World War 3 suddenly started, we would be in the best place to survive.  Switzerland is the only country in the world that has enough fallout shelters for its population and then some.

We flew Air Canada Business Class to London Heathrow Airport.  The service was great and the flight was much more comfortable.  No crying babies & snoring seniors.  I passed the time watching movies and sneaking a nap.  We cleared UK Customs, exited the terminal, and took a train to central London.  We checked into our hotel, did a bit of exploring, and then rested for the night.

We made our way to St. Pancras Railway Station, or as I like to call it, St. Pancreas, the following morning.  Our guided tour of Switzerland was booked through Great Rail Journeys (GRJ).  We met the other tourists and our tour guide in front of the GRJ office.  Everyone boarded a Eurostar train to Paris, France.  My dad & I crossed the Channel Tunnel for the first time.  The train staff served meals during the crossing, most likely to keep passengers occupied.  There was only darkness on the other side of the windows.  Upon arriving in Paris, we walked to the Gare de L’Est Train Station and took a TGV to Strasbourg.  This was my first time on France’s high-speed rail in 19 years.  The TGV averaged at 315km/h.  Canada really needs trains like this.

The tour group overnighted in Strasbourg and then boarded a train for Basel, Switzerland.  Entering Switzerland for the first time felt . . . neutral.  Joke aside, it was great.  We transferred to a different train that took us through Zurich and dropped us off at the town of Chur.  We had to walk a few blocks to the hotel.  We were given time to settle in and then met in the hotel’s restaurant for dinner.  Our tour guide formerly welcomed us to Switzerland and informed us of what was planned for our time in Chur.  We enjoyed our first Swiss dinner and retired to our bedrooms.

The first train trip was from Chur to Poschiavo and back on the Bernina Express.  The train travels all the way to Tirano, but we didn’t have time to go that far south and back in a day.  We were given our own train coach.  I took hundreds of photos along the way and filmed several portions of the return trip.  Expect several videos on my YouTube channel soon.  The Swiss landscape is mountainous and majestic.  The mountains are much taller than the ones around Arctic Bay.  The highest point in the trip was Alp Grum at 6,860 feet or 2091 metres.  Long rows of large avalanche fences stretch across many slopes of mountains.      

I should note that taking photos was a challenge because there are many tall trees next to the tracks.  I’m guessing this is to combat avalanches during winter.  Best to just snap a lot of photos while the train is in motion and hope you get several good shots.

Poschiavo Centre Square.

The tour group spent a few hours in Poschiavo.  It’s a large town tucked inside a valley.  My dad & I walked the narrow streets in the old town centre.  We had to switch trains at St. Moritz on the way back.  We returned to Chur in the evening.  We enjoyed another Swiss dinner at the hotel before retiring for the evening.

We were given the next day to explore Chur on foot.  My dad & I explored the old town centre and then took a cable car up to Brambrüesch.  I was glad I didn’t get a nosebleed.  Once again, the views were splendid and I took many photographs.  We returned to Chur by the same cable car, walked through the town centre, and then enjoyed lunch at a busy restaurant.  We explored a bit more of the town on foot and then returned to the hotel.

The second train trip was from Chur to Brig on the Glacier Express.  This portion of the train line ascends & descends to new heights & depths through the Swiss Alps!  Chur sits at an altitude of 1,919 feet (585 metres) while Brig is at 2,198 feet (670 metres).  The peak is in between at Oberalppass at a whopping 6,669 feet (2033 metres)!  More on that coming up.

Lunch was served and I commend the staff for remaining balanced while the train was in motion.  To prevent spills, the staff “assemble” your main meal where you sit.  First, they set a large white plate, bring the portions in individual bowls, and then carefully place them on your plate.  My meal was tortellini.

Oberalpsee Lake greeted us as the train reached Oberalppass.  The mountains on both sides were covered in greenery, rocks, and avalanche fences.  Our tour guide told us that even cows graze at this altitude.  I’m glad I didn’t get a nosebleed.

The train ride was all downhill after Oberalppass.  We descended in circles & S patterns into the valley below.  We saw farms and cable cars on the sides of mountains.  We rode through Andermatt & Fiesch.  One location that caught my eye as we neared Brig was the GOMS Bridge.  It’s a 280-metre (918-foot) long suspension bridge that stretches over the Rhone River at a height of 82 metres (269 feet).  Unfortunately, the train doesn’t stop here.  If I ever revisit this part of Switzerland, I’ll film myself walking across the bridge in both directions.     

We arrived in Brig in the early evening.  We walked to the hotel and checked into our rooms.  The tour group enjoyed dinner at the hotel restaurant.  Our tour guide welcomed us to Brig and briefed us on what to expect for the next few days.  We retired to our rooms for the evening. 

 

                                                         

                                                                   To Be Continued . . . 

Update #1: Apologies for the long wait, but I finally completed & uploaded my Bernina Express videos to my YouTube channel.  Click on the following links to view:

·         Part 1: Poschiavo to Alp Grum

·         Part 2: Alp Grum

·         Part 3: Alp Grum to Ospizio Bernina

·         Part 4: Ospizio Bernina to Bernina Legalb

·         Part 5: Bernina Legalb to Morteratsch

·         Part 6: Morteratsch to Celerina Staz

Update #2: Apologies for the longer wait, but I finally completed & uploaded my Chur videos to my YouTube channel.  Click on the following links to view:

•         Chur Cable Car: Views Between BB & MK
•         View Of Chur (2025)
•          Chur Cable Car: The Descent

End of School Year 2025

June 4 was a very special day for the kindergarten students of Inuujaq School.  Graduation had finally arrived!  The students as well as their parents & guardians had been looking forward to the day for a long time.  Preparations for the ceremony had begun months in advance.

The ceremony took place in the school gym.  The kindergarten teacher borrowed the arch & red carpets from the high school graduation committee.  She also prepared a large colourful background for photographs.  The red kindergarten chairs were arranged in front of the background.  Staff, students, parents, guardians, and relatives filled the gym.  The nervous & excited graduates waited outside in the gym lobby, wearing blue grad gowns.

The principal welcomed everyone to the year end assembly and thanked them for being present for kindergarten graduation.  The kindergarten teacher called out each of her students individually.  The students walked along the red carpet, under the red arch, received their graduation certificate from the teacher, and sat on a red chair.  The audience applauded each student.  Once the students were seated, parents & guardians came up to take pictures with their mobile phones.  I joined as the school’s photographer.  The kindergarten teacher posed with the class.  The chair of the local District Education Authority (DEA) also congratulated the kindergarteners for successfully completing the school year.

The assembly continued with student perfect attendance.  Students from each grade were called to the front to receive a certificate for achieving perfect attendance for the month of May.

The assembly concluded with the DEA holding a draw for large bags of food.

The last day of school for students was June 5.  The morning was dedicated to cleaning classrooms & removing garbage from the playground & around the school.  Desks, chairs, and tables were stacked in the corners of classrooms so the custodians could mop & clean the floors over the summer.  Teachers & students were given garbage bags & gloves for the outdoor cleanup.

Students & teachers enjoyed a round robin of outdoor activities & games in the afternoon.  The school’s events committee organized the event.  There were 7 stations: food, soccer, beanbag toss, nakataq, obstacle course, skipping rope, and Inuit games.  The food station was more of a barbecue and nakataq is a rock throwing game where you try to hit a small rock with another small rock.

Groups spent 15 minutes at each station.  Parents & guardians were invited to the barbecue.  There was plenty of food to go around.  High school students were divided amongst the groups and food station.  Several high school students are good BBQ cooks. 

I walked around taking photographs and making sure everything was ran smoothly.  I also enjoyed a hamburger, hot dog, and cup of chicken soup.  The games & barbecue concluded at 3:30pm.  Sports equipment was brought inside, and the food station was cleaned up.  Garbage bags were placed in large bins.  Students were dismissed for summer break.  They were “free” until mid-August.

The last day of school for staff was June 6.  An afternoon potluck was held for everyone in the Home Ec Room.  There were various food items to choose.  The principal congratulated everyone for making the school year a success and wished everyone a safe & happy summer.  The food was blessed and everyone lined up.  I joined last.  The food was delicious.

Staff going down south for the summer or not returning in August returned their keys to the main office.  Everyone was dismissed in the early afternoon.

The principal & I had to stay an extra two working days to finish administrative duties.  I flew down south two days later.

As always, I’ll be taking a break from my blogging duties for the summer months.  See you all in August!

-                         

High School Graduation 2025

Friday, May 30, was a very big & special day for three high school students.  Graduation had finally arrived!  The students were excited to celebrate their successful completion of high school with family, friends, Elders, teachers, students, and community members.  Months of planning & organization by the Graduation Committee had all come down to this.

The festivities began in the morning at Inuujaq School.  The graduates changed into their pink graduation gowns and did a congratulatory walk down the main hallway to music.  Students & staff lined the hallway, applauded and cheered.  I filmed the event with the school’s camcorder.  The graduates did the walk twice.

The graduates were given the afternoon off to get ready for the evening ceremony at the local community hall.  High school & middle school students spent the afternoon decorating the community hall.  I assisted by transporting decorations with the help of a borrowed pickup truck.

I arrived at the community hall at 5:30pm.  The graduation dinner was set to begin at 6:00pm so I used the extra time to photograph the decorations.  High school & middle school did an excellent job.  The stage was fully decorated with balloons, banners, flowers, stars, chairs, a podium, and gold backdrop.  Rows of tables & chairs sat in front of the stage for dinner guests.  The chair covers were white and the tablecloths were red.  Flower decorations sat on gold runners on each table.  A long L-shaped red carpet ran down the centre of the hall, lined with small bright lights.  An arch decorated in red, pink, white, sat at the halfway point.  The hall looked ready for a celebration.

The graduates & dinner guests began arriving at 5:45pm.  The local hotel was hired to cater the event, and their staff moved all the prepared food, desserts, and drinks into the hall.  A line of tables set up against a wall served as the food tables.  By 6:00pm everything & everyone was ready.

The principal welcomed everyone to the graduation dinner.  An Elder blessed the food and the graduates were invited to get their food first.  Everyone else followed.  I waited for the line to thin out and then filled my plate with food.  The prepared menu was delicious.  Dinner lasted about an hour. 

We spent the next hour clearing & putting away the tables and rearranging the chairs to face the stage.  Untouched leftover food was placed in the foyer with takeout boxes & disposable cutlery.  People who attended the graduation ceremony were free to help themselves to leftovers.  People started arriving for the ceremony at 7:30pm and the hall quickly filled with spectators.  The ceremony began at 8:00pm.

Two Elders led an opening prayer and lighting of the ceremonial qulliq.  The graduates were escorted into the hall by their parents along the red carpet.  Their graduation gowns were pink.  Celebratory music played over loudspeakers.  Everyone clapped & cheered as the graduates took their seats on stage.  The music faded out and the audience sat down.

The principal addressed the audience & graduates.  She congratulated the graduates for completing high school and thanked the parents/guardians & community for assisting them and the teachers.  She encouraged the grads to continue their education, be it college, university, or both, and consider a career in education.

The graduates were presented their high school diplomas.  They were all smiles and received extended applauses from the audience.

The head of the local District Education Authority (DEA) took to the podium and congratulated the students for completing high school.  They also encouraged them to consider a career in education because Nunavut needs more teachers.  The students were then gifted a bursary of several hundred dollars.

The ceremony continued with awards.  The categories were Athletics, Inuktitut, English, Math & Science, Hamlet of Arctic Bay, and Governor General’s Academic Medal (GGAM).  All awards came with certificates, but some included cash prizes.  I had the honour of presenting the GGAM to the student with the highest academic average.  This year was close.  We almost had a tie. 

The graduates were given the chance to address the audience.  They thanked their families, friends, & teachers for helping them finish school.  Parents, guardians, and friends were also invited to say a few words.  They too thanked school staff for helping the graduates.

The principal did the closing remarks.  The graduates then stood up and exited the hall while celebratory music played.  They smiled & waved at the cheering audience.  The ceremony had come to an end.

School staff moved a table with red cloth over to a decorated wall.  A large graduation cake was carefully brought out and placed on the table.  The three graduates stood behind the cake and held a large cutting knife.  Many photos were taken.  The cake was cut into many pieces and handed out to the audience.  The grads got the first pieces.  A smaller Sponge Bob themed cake was made just for the graduates. 

School staff packed up items that belonged to the school, carried them outside, and placed them in the truck I borrowed from Frank.  I got a few volunteers to come with me to put everything inside the school.  Better to do it now than later. 

I dropped off Frank’s truck and walked home.  The graduates & their friends would continue to celebrate at the community hall with an evening dance.