Early October (2017)

Arctic Bay. October 9, 2017.

Round table next to woodpile.

I drove out to the airport on Thanksgiving Monday, October 9, to check out the woodpile the cadets collected in September.  There was enough snow the ground for me to use my skidoo.  I drove alongside the road, carefully avoiding the many small rocks sprinkled in the middle.  Despite the arrival of snow, it would still be several more weeks before the water in the bay would freeze.

            

Woodpile.

St. Georges Cliffs.

I turned off the main road and drove across a field, around the airport’s perimeter fence.  The snow was fluffy and deep, but not a problem for my skidoo.  I reached the woodpile where the cadets & I did the beach cleanup just last month.  The pile was buried in snow.  I would need to recruit several senior cadets with shovels to help me clear the snow off the pile.  Only then would it be easier to have the annual October bonfire.  I took several pictures of Arctic Bay & the cliffs before returning to my residence.

            

Grade 3 winners.

Inuujaq School held its first Attendance Awards Assembly of the 2017-18 school year on Thursday, October 12.  Everyone gathered in the gym to see the students who achieved perfect attendance for the month of September.  The recipients would receive a certificate and a backpack full of school supplies.  I was the official photographer.

            

Grade 6 winners.

Custom made fidget spinners.

I was called down to the Grade 9 classroom on Friday, October 13, to be the adjudicator of their fidget spinner contest and select the top 3 spinners.  The challenge was to create their own spinners.  Fidget spinners are the latest craze that’s sweeping the globe.  They reached their peak in the summer of 2017, but they’re still popular in Arctic Bay.  Most teachers find them annoying & distracting, but I’ve embraced them with open arms.  They remind me of POGs, (aka milk caps), the popular game that took over schoolyards in the mid-1990s, the same time when I was in elementary school.  I’ve already started my own fidget spinner collection and I think it’s going to grow substantially over the coming months.

            

Being thorough.

Third, Second, First.

I was presented with 10 custom made fidget spinners.  I gave my camera to a Grade 9 student so they could take pictures.  First, I congratulated the students for stepping up to the challenge and putting their creativity on display.  I carefully picked up each fidget spinner, examined the design, and did my best to spin it.  I pondered & thought after testing each spinner and narrowed them down to the three I liked the best.  I then arranged them in order of third, second, and first.  The top three winners would receive a prize of some kind.  I thanked the Grade 9 class for selecting me as their judge.

            

Hunter Tootoo, Nunavut’s independent MP, spoke to the high school students on October 13.  The last time he visited Inuujaq School was in April 2013 when he was visiting communities with the Mace of Nunavut.  In his presentation, he talked about his role as Nunavut’s MP to the House of Commons in Ottawa, what he does, and how he brings Inuit concerns to the federal level.  At the end of the presentation, several photographs were taken of him with the high school students.            

I did return to the bonfire site with two senior cadets later that evening.  We spent a good thirty minutes shovelling snow off the woodpile.  The bonfire would take place the following evening.            

Meetings

Nanisivik

"Hidden Valley" entrance.

I only stayed in Arctic Bay for one day then travelled down to Iqaluit for professional development (PD) meetings.  The meetings would be attended by all PD liaisons from schools across Nunavut.  Another teacher would be joining me on this trip.  John came along because he is the school’s union representative and there were union meetings also happening in the territory’s capital.  The Nunavut Teachers Association (NTA) is currently in contract negotiations with the Government of Nunavut (GN) and he would be bringing back any information about the behind-closed-door negotiations.  John & I would be in Iqaluit for four days.

            

Pond Inlet

We left Arctic Bay on the morning of September 27.  The plane flew towards Pond Inlet to pick up more passengers.  Surprisingly, the plane flew above the Nanisivik Naval Facility (still under construction) and the hidden valley I explored in late May.  From what I could see, the two large gas tanks at Nanisivik were built.  Usually, the pilots fly further north before turning towards Pond Inlet.  The plane touched down in Iqaluit by lunchtime.  John stayed at a hotel while I slept at my brother’s place.

            

Conference room.

NTA President John Fanjoy addresses
the audience.

The meetings took place in two conference rooms at the Frobisher Inn.  I walked to the hotel on the morning of September 28, noting that there was barely any snow on the ground.  The conference rooms used to house Iqaluit’s old swimming pool but was closed down in 2012 when it sprang a leak.  The NTA & PD Liaisons all gathered in one conference room for the introduction.  Each person received a bag full of things.  Mine contained a personalized folder, various paper documents, and the newly updated PD manuals.  The conference began at 8:30am with a welcome speech from the newly elected NTA President, John Fanjoy.  This was followed by a brief update on the upcoming Northern & Central Qikiqtani teachers conference in 2018 by the chief organizer Craig MacGregor.  In short, things were coming along.  Two NTA members were recognized for their dedicated service to Nunavut education and were awarded personalized plaques in the shapes of small wooden qamutiks (sleds).

            

New professional development manuals.

The audience was split into two groups after the introductions.  The NTA liaisons went in one room and the PD liaisons went to the other.  I’ll spare you the details but the next two days for me consisted of PowerPoint slides, presentations, group discussions, debates, and reasons why Nunavut teachers have the best professional development funding in Canada.  The information presented was old & new.  The presenters had to include the “old stuff” because there were quite a few new PD liaisons attending the conference.  Regarding the contract negotiations with the territorial government, we were told if an agreement is reached by January/February 2018, then negotiations went very well.  (The members of the NTA negotiating team are kept secret).

A blizzard in Iqaluit.

An evening banquet was held for everyone on the evening of September 30^th at the Frobisher Inn.  Unfortunately, a blizzard rolled into the city, resulting in all taxis being taken off the roads.  The teachers who were staying at the Frobisher were not affected by the blizzard.  Teachers like me who were staying in other accommodations could either brave the weather or “stay at home”.  I chose to brave the weather.  There was no way I was missing the prime rib of beef.  I made it safely to the hotel without being blown over.  Both conference rooms were converted into dining rooms.  There were tables filled with appetizers, salads, and main dishes.  Quite a few tables remained empty because many teachers decided to stay home.  Apparently, some roads were too slippery for vehicles.  We all dined like royalty that night.  The walk home was an adventure for me.  I was walking with the wind but every time there was a gust, it felt like someone was pushing me forward.  (I safely made it to my brother’s home).    

My prime rib of beef dinner.

Representatives from the Department of Education gave a presentation to everyone on the last day of the conference.  The department was introducing new frameworks & guidelines for professional development & self-evaluation.  I was surprised to see all the handouts were printed in colour.  They spared no expense.  Everyone got a “crash-course” in how the documents are to be used.  The new frameworks & guidelines would come into effect in early 2018. 

Downtown Iqaluit

John & I spent an extra day in Iqaluit.  I spent my time buying school supplies and walking around town.  We flew back to Arctic Bay on October 2, bringing with us a wealth of information to share with our colleagues.       

Gold Star Expedition – Part 2

Officer preparing breakfast.

First Strike energy bar.

Reveille was at 8:00am.  The day was Saturday, September 23.  Everyone slowly emerged from their tents, dressed and ready to “seize the day”.  Breakfast consisted of American-made Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs).  I personally prefer the Canadian-made Individual Meal Packages (IMPs) but those are reserved for the regular Armed Forces.  Nevertheless, the MREs provided sustenance.          

The cadets were divided into two groups.  One group would hike a small portion of the Mantario Trail while the other would canoe in Big Whiteshell Lake.  The groups would then switch in the afternoon.  I was placed with the group that would hike the trail first.  Both groups were led by captains.  The cadets were assigned rucksacks and instructed to pack as if they were going out on an overnight hike.  The only exception to the rule was to leave the tents behind.  The weather was gloomy with scattered periods of light rain so the Captain-in-charge decided not to have the cadets tear down their wet tents.  I could see the cadets were relieved by not having to carry the added weight.

            

My group was driven to the northern starting point of the Mantario Trail in blue DND vans.  Everyone disembarked and got ready to hike.  The captain in charge of my group randomly selected a cadet to lead the group for the first part of the trail.  (A very small, small part of the trail crosses into the province of Ontario.  We would not reach this part).

            

This was my first time in Whiteshell Provincial Park and hiking the Mantario Trail.  The northern portion we hiked is not paved.  It’s dirt, rock, mud, and on this day, full of puddles.  Arrow signs are placed on tree trunks to tell hikers where to go.  We walked as a group and did our best not to step in the mud puddles.  The cadet who was the leader used a map & a compass to direct the other cadets to go.  For northern cadets, using the compass is a challenge because the instrument is near-useless in Nunavut.  (The magnetic north is located in Nunavut).

            

Lunch time.

We stopped at a small dock for lunch.  The cadets were instructed not to touch the privately-owned boats moored to the dock.  The dragon stoves were fired up and the MREs were brought out.  We stayed at the dock for about an hour before packing up and heading back the way we came.  We got a little lost along the way.  I was glad I brought my GPS with me.  Turns out we were heading in the right direction, but walking next to the main path.  We met the second cadet group near the starting point.  The cadets in my group posed for a photograph to celebrate the successful completion of the hike.  They were given a short break when they arrived at the main camp site.

            

Group photo.

The cadets in my group were formed up and marched down to a dock near the main campsite.  They carried their rucksacks with them.  It was now their turn to canoe in Big Whiteshell Lake.  The canoe instructor, who was also a captain, was waiting for everyone by the dock & launching platform.  The cadets placed their rucksacks in a line and stood around the captain.  He welcomed the cadets to the next portion of the expedition and began teaching.  He showed us how to properly unload the canoes from the trailer, how to paddle, what knots to tie on the ends of the canoes, what safety gear to wear, how to pack a canoe, and how to launch a canoe.  The cadets were divided into groups of two.  I was paired with the female captain who was in charge of this group.  She warned me not to tip over the canoe with her in it or there would be “grave consequences”.  I didn’t want to find out. 

            

The canoes were launched into the lake, one by one.  We paddled out and around the dock.  We created a “raft of canoes” by coming together and holding the canoes next to us with our hands.  Once the cadets were comfortable with the raft formation, the canoe instructor showed them how to switch places without falling into the water.  We spent the next hour canoeing a section of the lake, getting better at paddling and keeping our balance.  Everyone came back ashore dry.

            

Saturday evening consisted of dinner MREs and a short bonfire.  Everyone got a chance to roast marshmallows over and open fire.

            

Sunday, September 25, was a day of rain.  It wasn’t a heavy downpour; just steady streams of water droplets falling from the sky.  Tarps had to be erected over picnic tables so that everyone could prepare their breakfast MREs.  Everyone put on their rain coats to avoid getting wet.  The morning was spent tearing down the camp.  Everything that was issued was returned & packed in a large white trailer.  A group photo of the northern cadets & staff was taken in front of the trailer carrying canoes.  The photograph would be sent to CBC News North and hopefully be featured on their website.

            

The bus arrived at 1pm.  The cadets bid farewell to the senior officers in charge of the expedition.  The bus drove back to Winnipeg and dropped off the Rankin Inlet & Arctic Bay cadets at the airport.  The Naujaat cadets would be staying in Winnipeg for an extra day.  We didn’t have any issues getting through security.  The Rankin Inlet cadets departed first.  My cadets & I departed for Toronto about an hour later.  The flight was uneventful.  The flight from Toronto to Ottawa was packed.  The time was 10:30pm when we landed in the nation’s capital.

            

We picked up our bags and got a ride to the same hotel where we stayed on the way down.  Our rooms were different.  We only got around six hours of sleep because we had to be back at the airport in the morning.  The cadets & I must have looked like zombies walking through the airport.  The flight to Iqaluit took off at 9:15am.  We changed planes and left for Arctic Bay at 2:30pm.  We touched down at 5:30pm.  Parents & Frank were waiting inside the terminal.  Everyone was driven home.  It was good to be home.

            

Overall, the Gold Star Expedition was a success, despite the frequent periods of rain.  My four senior cadets passed the expedition without difficulty.

End of Gold Star Expedition Mini-Series.

Gold Star Expedition - Part 1

Four senior cadets from 3045 Army Cadet Corps were selected to attend the annual Gold Star Expedition in Winnipeg, in late September.  (Gold Star means Year 4 cadets).  I would be their escorting officer.  This would be my first time, as well as theirs, attending the expedition.  I was told that it would be similar to the Silver Star Expedition held in May, but more rigorous.  Prior to departure, I prepared lesson plans for the supply teacher.  I didn’t want boredom to reign in my classroom while I was away.

            

The four cadets and I flew out on the morning of Thursday, September 21.  They were dressed in civilian clothing and sporting the red & black 3045 hoodies.  I was wearing my digital combat fatigues.  Unfortunately, there weren’t enough cadets from the north to warrant a charter, so we were taking the scenic route to Winnipeg.  (Cadets from Naujaat & Rankin Inlet were also participating).  To get to Winnipeg, we would fly down to Ottawa through Iqaluit, stay the night, and then fly to Winnipeg through Toronto, early the next morning.  On the bright side, I would finally get to see the newly opened Iqaluit Airport terminal!

            

New Iqaluit Airport Terminal. (September 21, 2017)

We landed in Iqaluit at around noon.  The plane taxied to the big & shiny red terminal and came to a halt.  The new terminal is eight times larger than the old “yellow submarine” terminal.  We disembarked from and walked across the tarmac towards the door marked Gate 4.  I had my camera at the ready.  I immediately noticed the abundance of open space, and large works of art on the walls.  We turned right, then left, and emerged in the main hallway.  The 15 new check in counters were to our left and the Arrivals Hall was to our right.  We proceeded to the Arrivals Hall, passing the gift store, security area, and more works of art.

            

Iqaluit Airport - Main Hall

Gift Shop.

The Arrivals Hall is a large circular room, complete with benches, a café, and four large murals.  One of the murals is the revered Enchanted Owl, painted by the late artist Kenojuak Ashevak in 1960.  Beyond the Arrivals Hall is the Baggage area where passengers can pick up their luggage from two carousels.  I was very impressed by this new building. 

            

That's a lot of Amazon packages.

I think Kenn Borek Air needs a
larger hangar.

We stayed in the new terminal for about an hour before catching our flight down to Ottawa.  A former cadet, now living in Iqaluit, came to the terminal unannounced to see his old friends.  I briefly spoke with a former student I taught at Inuksuk High School in 2012.  She now works at the airport gift store.  Our flight was slightly delayed because the ground crew had to unload a lot of Amazon packages off the plane.  (Iqaluit residents still qualify for free shipping from Amazon).

            

Downtown Ottawa.

The plane landed in Ottawa at 5pm.  There wasn’t any snow on the ground and the temperature was hot compared to the north.  The cadets & I exited the terminal and got a ride to the hotel on a shuttle.  The hotel gave us three rooms.  We got a good night’s rest.

            

My first fidget spinner!

We were back at the airport the next morning.  We were checked in & through security by 6:45am.  The cadets ordered breakfast at Tim Hortons.  While waiting for the cadets, a random traveller walked by me and said, “Thank you for serving.”  “You’re welcome Ma’am,” I replied.  (I was wearing my combat fatigues).  Before getting on the plane to Toronto, I bought my first fidget spinner!  The fidget spinner craze is still going strong in Arctic Bay, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon.

            

The flight to Toronto was uneventful.  I followed the cadets off the plane, through the jet bridge, and into the Toronto terminal.  I took maybe six steps beyond the gate doors when another random traveller said to me, “Thank you for serving in uniform.”  “You’re welcome, Sir,” I answered.  We found our gate for the Winnipeg flight and waited for about an hour.  I spent the first half of the flight speaking with a former teacher sitting next to me.  She wanted to know about the Canadian cadet program and from where the cadets & I were coming from.  She was surprised to hear that we were travelling from so far away.  (Wearing your military uniform in public attracts may questions and comments).

            

Lunch at the 17 Wing Mess Hall.

A captain met us at the Winnipeg Airport and drove us to 17 Wing.  It is here where the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northwest) office is located.  The captain took us to the mess hall for a free lunch.  The cadets from 3055 Naujaat & 3019 Rankin Inlet arrived several hours later.  There were many familiar faces.  Joyful greetings were exchanged between the cadets & officers.  The Commanding Officers of these two corps were also coming along for the trip.

            

Boxed lunch.

The cadets were formed up and instructed to place their personal belongings in a van.  The cadets were then taken to a nearby CANEX to shop.  The Greyhound bus was running a little late so shopping at the store would keep the cadets distracted.  The captains running the expedition drove out to the staging area in a convoy of vans pulling trailers.  One trailer was loaded with canoes, another was full of cadet & camping equipment.  A short downpour forced us to stay inside the CANEX for several extra minutes.  We moved over to the recreational facility and ate boxed lunches.  The Greyhound bus arrived shortly thereafter.            

On the way to Whiteshell.

The bus transported us to Whiteshell Provincial Park, 130km east of Winnipeg.  It was night time when we arrived at our reserved camp site.  Cadets from a Manitoba cadet corps were there to greet us.  Everyone disembarked and retrieved their personal belongings.  The cadets were divided into groups and instructed where to set up their tents.  The washrooms were marked with glow sticks.  I was lucky enough to be given my own tent for the weekend.  Sleeping bags & air mattresses were given out.  By the time the camp was set up, everyone was tired & sleepy.  Lights out was 11pm.

            

Everyone was excited about the next day: Saturday.

My tent for the weekend.

To Be Continued . . .