School Picnic & Community Service

Inuujaq School held a picnic for students, staff, parents, guardians, and community members on the afternoon of September 5.  The event gave people the opportunity to meet & greet the teachers, new & returning, and enjoy delicious barbecue food.  The event also allowed the school to test the 2 new BBQ machines it bought on sealift.  I must commend the local Northern Store for successfully delivering two large food orders for the first day of school and picnic since these events occurred close to each other.

The school’s Events Committee handled the planning & staging of the picnic.  The original plan was for the event to be at Uluskan Point, like we did in 2023, but circumstances beyond our control made this impossible.  Thankfully, the committee had a Plan B: the school.  (The school is heated, has washrooms, and provides shelter against bad weather).

Several high school teachers & students set up the BBQ/food station just behind the school after lunch.  The weather was sunny.  Staff found alternate parking spots for their vehicles.  Tables, chairs, barbecues, garbage cans, utensils, cleaning supplies, juice boxes, frozen hamburgers, hamburger & hot dog buns, and condiments were all brought outside and set up.  The hot dogs would be prepared inside on an electric powered hot dog rolling machine the school bought last year.  The BBQ staff immediately got to work cooking food so there would be some to serve right from the start.  You don’t want a long line up.

The picnic began at 1:30pm and there were 2 food lines.  The wait time was manageable & tolerable.  The two new Coleman barbecues worked well, leading me to conclude that another two need to be purchased.  The volunteer cooks did a great job preparing hotdogs & hamburgers.  Running 4 barbecues & 1 hot dog rolling machine proved effective because everyone in attendance went through the food line in a shorter period than I thought.  Seconds were offered to everyone.  Everyone had fun.

The barbecue ended early.  High school students assisted the BBQ staff with cleanup.  Students & teachers returned to class and then were dismissed early for the weekend.

The army cadets of 3045 Corps performed community service on September 6, cleaning a section of shoreline between the gas station & airport.  Performing community service is part of the Canadian Cadet Program, and taking care of the land follows the Inuit IQ Principle of Avatimik Kamattiarniq.

The cadets & I arrived at school in the morning for breakfast, consisting of prepackaged meals shipped by the regional cadet support unit.  I held a quick briefing after breakfast, going over the plan for the day.  The cadets then gathered the equipment we would need and placed it in a waiting pickup truck.  The cadets found safe spots in the back of the truck, and I drove them to the staging area.

We reached the staging area after a 15-minute drive.  We unloaded the equipment from the truck and placed it in a designated spot.  We equipped ourselves with disposable gloves, garbage bags, and walkie-talkies.  We split into two groups and began ridding the shoreline of garbage.  The amount of garbage is less than behind the airport, but still noticeable & unwanted.  Most of the items we picked up were pop cans, chip bags, discarded toys, plastic bags, and clothes.  Very large items like wooden boards, logs, and rubber tires, were organized into large piles. 

An RCMP officer stopped to greet us.  After I explained what we were doing, the officer offered to take several filled garbage bags and drop them off at the local landfill.  We agreed to the offer.  Thank you!

A curious dog crossed the road and followed us around.  I think they are a part of a team of sled dogs just down the road.  The dog didn’t cause trouble and stayed with us until after lunch.

The cadets prepared their lunches at noon, firing up a Coleman stove, and cooking Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs).  Lunch lasted an hour.

We moved closer to town and continued picking up garbage along the shoreline.  We were surprised to find a discarded fridge & wooden ladder.  The cadets removed the door and placed large objects inside the old beat-up fridge.  Smaller items were placed in black garbage bags.   

The shoreline cleanup finished at 3:00pm.  I took a group photo of the cadets standing behind the garbage bags they filled.  We packed everything up and drove to the landfill to drop off the garbage bags.  We put away all the corps equipment at Frank’s Shop.  I thanked the cadets for participating in the activity and doing their part to keep the land clean.  I drove them home.

The First Few Weeks & Sealift

Inuujaq School staff, new & returning, assembled a few days before the start of the academic year to meet, collaborate, and prepare the classrooms & school for students.  School Administration held a morning staff meeting to go over many essential items.  I won’t bore you with the entire list, but it included schedules, duty assignments, policies, upcoming events, and important due dates.  We also introduced ourselves and gave brief bios.  The next 2 & half days were spent getting ready.  A few teachers assisted me setting up the gym for the first day assembly.

The first day for students was August 18.  Staff arrived early in the morning to prepare food for breakfast.  The menu included various fruits, granola bars, cheese, meat, yogurt tubes, and juice boxes.  The food was moved to the gym where it was equally divided onto paper plates.  The food would be served at the morning assembly.  It’s best to prepare plates ahead of time to make distribution immediate & easy.  You don’t want to keep the audience waiting.

The first school bell of the 2025-26 school year rang and excited students came inside.  Students were welcomed over morning announcements.  Everyone proceeded to the gym for the morning assembly & breakfast.  Parents & guardians were invited. 

The principal opened the assembly with a short speech.  She welcomed everyone and wished the students the best for the school year.  A Minute of Silence was held for two students we tragically lost over the summer.  I won’t include details out of respect for the families involved.  An Elder blessed the food and the principal instructed all staff to help with distribution.  The plates went fast and the food was delicious. 

Staff members introduced themselves and stated their assigned roles.  Parents & guardians were invited to take leftover food home in takeout boxes.  Teachers escorted their students back to class at the end of the assembly.  High school students stayed behind to clean up the gym.

The first few weeks were spent establishing student routines, expectations, learning outcomes, proper behaviours, reviewing the IQ Principles, and beginning the curriculum.  High school students were told they only had the first few weeks to decide if they wanted to change classes.  I will be spending most of my time in the main office as vice principal – my second year – but also teaching high school drums.

The annual sealift shipping season began early in Arctic Bay with ships from NSSI & NEAS arriving near the end of August.  They usually arrive at the beginning of September.  Earlier is better.  NSSI offloaded my crate and then I hired a local business to move it to my place.  I spent a few hours on the weekend opening the crate with a crowbar, moving everything inside, sorting, and putting my supplies away.  My residence now looks like a well stocked fallout shelter.  I would spend the next several days moving the school supplies I bought to school.

The school’s sealift order also arrived, taking up a large space in front of the Northern Store.  The order was divided into many wooden crates of various sizes.  The school contracted a local moving company to move them closer to school.  Staff & students spent several days opening the crates & moving the supplies inside.  The main hallway looked like an aisle in a warehouse.  I assisted the secretary in checking all the products that arrived against the order lists.  We received most of the requested items.  The items were distributed throughout the school.  We should be good for most of the year.  If we need to order anything, it’ll have to be shipped by air.

 

Field Of Arctic Bay Dreams

I returned to Arctic Bay in early August to get a head start on preparing for the upcoming school year.  My first year as vice principal taught me extra time is needed for anything & everything.  Staying ahead of duties & tasks by a large margin pays dividends in the long run.  I did take a day or two to reacclimatize living in Canada’s Arctic.

Arctic Bay residents headed to Victor Bay on the afternoon of August 8 for the grand opening of the newly constructed baseball diamond.  The artificial turf diamond was built in 2023 with the Toronto Blue Jays providing a $46,000 donation through its Jays Care Foundation (JCF).  JCF representatives were present at the ceremony.     The original plan was to have the diamond in the community, but the chosen spot proved unworkable. 

The principal & I drove out to the field in the late afternoon.  There were a crowd and barbecue happening when we got there.  Kids & teenagers were playing baseball on the field.  The field looks nice in my view.  A bright blue wooden hut and 2 sea containers are also on site.

The ceremony was led by the hamlet’s recreation coordinator.  CBC News North sent a film crew to record the event.  The coordinator stood near the pitcher’s mound and welcomed everyone in Inuktitut & English.  The JCF representatives joined her on the field.  She called on all youth to come onto the field and receive Blue Jays t-shirts.  The youth then stood in two lines near home plate, holding the flags of Canada and Toronto Blue Jays.

Two Elders did a song & drum dance, followed by two lady throat singers.  Speeches were made by the recreation coordinator, JCF representatives, and deputy mayor.  The ceremony ended with a ribbon cutting. 

Youth continued playing baseball on the artificial turf and the recreation staff carried on with the barbecue.  I stayed around for a bit taking pictures and then got a ride back to town with the principal. 

Arctic Bay now has its own Field of Dreams . . . minus the cornfield. 

Euro Trip Part 2

Our hotel in Brig prepared a great breakfast spread for us and other guests.  You could fill up your plate(s) with smoked salmon, cold cuts of various meats, fruits, cheese, bread, and even donuts!  The tour group then assembled outside and followed the tour guide to the train station.  We boarded a train for Zermatt, a town located in the canton of Valais and near the Matterhorn mountain.  Zermatt is a well-known tourist destination for mountaineers & skiers.

We disembarked at the train station and walked out into the sun.  There were tourists walking around, but our tour guide explained there are thousands more during winter.  The town’s permanent population is close to 6,000 but can swell to 30,000 during winter.  Combustion engine vehicles are prohibited to prevent air pollution.  All vehicles are electric and surprisingly small.

We walked towards a large open square to get a clearer view of the Matterhorn.  The mountain rises to a height of 4,478 metres (14,692 feet)!  Thousands of mountaineers have successfully scaled the mountain since the late 1800s.  However, I should note the ascent is not easy and over 500 people have lost their lives trying to reach the summit.  Our tour guide gave us several minutes to photograph the iconic mountain.

Our tour guide led us through the old section of town, letting us view & photograph the architecture, and giving us a brief history of the community.  The walking tour ended in front of Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius Church in the town centre.  We were given a few hours to explore & shop on our own.  

My dad & I visited a Lindt Chocolates store and bought some chocolates.  We also looked at some expensive Swiss watches that we couldn’t afford.  We enjoyed a pizza lunch at a restaurant.  Our meal was interrupted by the sounds of roaring jet engines.  I stepped out to see if they were Swiss F/A-18 fighter jets, but the surrounding mountains made it impossible.  They must have been out on patrol.  The last place we visited was a gift shop and bought a few souvenirs.  The tour group boarded the train in the late afternoon and return to Brig. 

Switzerland’s extensive railway system operates at various heights.  The tracks go around mountains, through mountains, and up & down mountains.  Special rack railways, also known as cog railways, are installed in the middle of ascending & descending tracks to help trains safely move up & down at controlled speeds.  I was able to photograph these rack railways on the return to Brig.

The next day was a free day for everyone to explore Brig at their own leisure.  The sun was out, the sky was blue, and temperature was hot.  My dad & I explored the city centre and Stockalperschloss Castle on foot.  The castle “was built between 1658 and 1678 by Kaspar Stockalper, a silk merchant of Brig.”  The gates to the castle and garden were open so we decided to check it out.  The interior courtyard was empty, making it easy for us to take pictures.  There were a few people & kids in the gardens.

We returned to the town square and found a restaurant to enjoy lunch.  I decided to splurge and ordered a large steak.  I’m glad I didn’t eat breakfast.  The meal was delicious and I informed my dad that I would be skipping dinner.

The next day was the last full day in Switzerland.  The tour group boarded a train to Spiez.  The route ascended the side of mountains and travelled through high valleys.  I managed to get several good pictures of Visp, the municipality of Turtmann-Unterems, a lone paraglider, and of course, mountains. 

It was raining when we arrived in Spiez.  Thankfully, our tour guide instructed us to bring umbrellas.  We walked to Schloss Spiez castle located in the centre of town.  We spent around 2 hours exploring the castle’s many artifacts & displays.  The most famous owner of this castle is Adrian von Bubenberg (1434 – 1479).  Yes, that is his last name.  The visit concluded with a wine tasting. 

The rain stopped as we walked down to Spiez Schiffstation to board a ferry to Thun.  The ferry was full of passengers and takes about an hour to reach Thun.   You can order food & drinks if you’re hungry.  I took pictures of Thunersee Lake and the surrounding landscape.  You can find plenty of sailboats & sail boaters on this lake.

The tour group spent a few hours exploring Thun on foot.  Most of us visited Schloss Thun, a large castle in the centre of town.  It’s situated on top of a hill so be prepared to walk up a lot of steps.  There is a public elevator but it’s a little difficult to locate.  You’re treated to great views of the town from the castle.

We gathered at the train station and boarded a train to Brig.  It was a great feeling to sit & rest your legs after spending most of the day walking.  We were treated a great dinner at our hotel in Brig and our tour guide explained tomorrow’s return trip to London, UK.

The return trip began in the morning, checking out of the hotel, and walking to the nearby train station, hauling our luggage.  Whoever designed luggage with wheels should have received a Nobel Prize.  The train took us to Geneva where we switched trains and continued to Paris, France.  We disembarked in the French capital and boarded a bus that took us to Gare du Nord train station.  We went through security, waited an hour, and boarded the Eurostar train to London.  The main meal was served when we entered the Channel Tunnel.  A good distraction from the darkness of the tunnel.  We arrived in London in the early evening.

It was here where the tour group parted ways.  We thanked our tour guide one last time for his guidance & hospitality.  Everyone shook hands and wished each other the best.  The Switzerland tour had come to an end. 

Overall, the Switzerland tour was excellent.  I got to see another corner of the world.  Surprisingly, my dad & I didn’t see any nuclear bunkers.  I guess they’re well hidden.  Give the Classic Glacier Express trip a try! 

My dad & I spent a day in London before returning to Canada.  We used the subway (aka Underground) to travel to the city centre and explore the sites.  We saw the Houses of Parliament, the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, the London Eye, Downing Street, and the British Library.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to go inside the Houses of Parliament or ride the London Eye.  Long lines.  There’s always a next time. 

We took the train to London Heathrow Airport and checked in.  We use the Business Class line to get through security and proceeded to the Maple Leaf Lounge.  The most expensive item I found on sale at the Duty-Free store was a bottle of Royal Salute Blended Scotch Whisky for £16,000!  That’s about $30,000 Canadian!  It had been reduced from £20,000.  I didn’t buy it.  I just like photographing the most expensive items on sale at airports to pass the time.

The Air Canada flight to Canada was great.  Travelling Business Class makes the flight much more enjoyable.  We arrived home in the late evening. 

                                                           End of Euro Trip mini-series.