Send In The Snow

The snow has finally arrived.  And it's staying.  Until summer next year.

            

The snowfall began sometime on the 15th and continued steadily for several days.  The town is not buried in white; more like being covered with a light blanket.  The disappearance of the brown ground has prompted me to break out my large winter boots.  It may look like too much for the beginning of winter (most people are still walking around with running shoes and low hiking boots), but I don't want to risk dirtying my dress pants when I walk to work.  My morning walk to the high school still includes trekking up a hill carrying my laptop briefcase.  The added weight of my thick winter jacket and boots makes the trip a rigorous exercise.

Just before the arrival of snow, I participated in a Field Training eXercise (FTX) with 795 Iqaluit Air Squadron on October 12 & 13.  My job was to provide supervision and to take pictures.  FTX Endurance was organized to teach cadets how to survive on the land by: building shelters & fires; cooking food; staying warm; and how to signal for rescue.  Endurance began on the evening of the 12th (Friday), with all cadets meeting at the cadet hall.  With all of their kit (sleeping bags, extra clothing, wash kit, etc) placed around the parade square, the cadets were formed up and separated into two groups.  Each group was given a lesson on tying knots & lashings.  The next class was on constructing improvised shelters.  Cadets were split into five groups and given fifteen minutes to construct shelters using rope, wooden planks, and ground sheets.  Once time was up, each shelter was examined and critiqued by the instructors.  It was the late evening when the class ended; it was time for bed.

            

For the FTX, the cadets would be spending the night at the cadet hall.  Males & females slept in separate rooms.  Adult staff slept in the lounge area.  Each cadet was given a military cot to sleep on.  The only challenge to setting them up is putting on the bars at the ends.  The green fabric stretches and becomes really tight.  It's best if two people put together a cot.  Even though I don't have a problem with sleeping on a cot, I chose to decline the offer an instead slept on a couch.    
         

Reveille was at 0800hrs on the morning of the 13th, and breakfast was served at 0815.  While waiting for breakfast to be served, the junior cadets set up tables and chairs on the parade square.  Adult staff and senior cadets had woken up earlier to prepare breakfast IMPs.  When it comes to food in the field, the military serves Individual Meal Packages, 'a bag of goodies' designed to give a soldier all the nutrition (s)he needs.  IMPs are organized into three sections (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) and there is a variety of meals to choose from each section.  With cadets, they are given a meal and then allowed to trade.  They were also instructed to place any unopened leftovers into designated boxes.  For safety reasons, all matches were removed from the bags.  Down south, the instant coffee bags are also confiscated by adult staff.    

            

For breakfast, I had the sausage & hash browns and which were quite good.  My favourite part of the meal is eating the loaf of bread that has been shrunken to the size of my hand.  This is done by 'removing' all the air pockets.  How exactly, I'm not sure, but the important thing is that it tastes great with peanut butter. 

            

After breakfast, the parade square was cleaned up and everyone was instructed to get ready for the walk into the field.  For the day, the cadets would be taking part in activities at Sylvia Grinnell Park, located just to the north of airport.  I was excited because this would be my first time visiting the park.  Once all the necessary supplies were loaded onto the truck and the cadet hall was locked down, the cadets began the long walk to the park.  There was a little snow on the ground but not too much to be a bother.  I did my best to stay with the main group because I frequently stopped to take pictures of the beautiful landscape.  Very few people get to see and experience such undamaged wilderness.

            

We arrived at one of the designated camp sites at the park by the mid morning.  Looking 360 degrees, I noticed that we were the only group in the park.  Even though it was an overcast day, there was a cold wind and it would play as a constant annoyance for everyone.  Cadets were given some time to explore the surrounding area but not wonder off too far.  They were also warned to stay away from the nearby river and to report any polar bear sightings. 

            

The first class was to construct the large 5-person winter tents, a good idea since the cold wind was beginning to pick up.  Once that was completed, the cadets were taught how to light a Coleman stove.  Around this time, the adult staff noticed that the wind was keeping the cadets inside the tents.  I and two officers headed back into town to fetch some firewood.  We brought back a truckload of discarded wood that was originally destined for the landfill.  Once we got a fire going, many cadets stood around it and warmed up.

            

The lunch IMPs took longer to prepare because one of the Coleman stoves decided to stop working.  When lunch was served, many chose to eat their meals in the arctic tents to get away from the wind.  I chose to eat mine in the supply truck where there was comfortable seating and because my feet were cold.  I knew I should have worn two pairs of socks. 

            

After lunch, it was becoming apparent that the cadets were not wearing enough layers of clothing.  Because of this, the cold wind was preventing them to concentrate.  The adult staff decided to fast track the training schedule and head back to the cadet hall.  Before we set off on the return hike, the cadets took down the tents, did several garbage sweeps over the area, loaded everything back onto the supply truck, and posed for unit photo.  Rather than go back the way we came, we walked a little further into the park and then turned left, trekking over rocky hills, and eventually ending back at the airport.  The walk back to the cadet hall took a little longer because there were plenty of mud puddles to avoid.     
   

            

Back at the cadet hall, the cadets were debriefed and instructed on how to dress better the next time they go into the field.  The cadets were given some time to relax as the dinner IMPs were prepared.  Once dinner had been eaten and the parade square was cleaned, they were allowed to play sports and watch a movie.  Overall, the FTX was a success even though there wasn't time to teach hand signals and map & compass.  That'll be for next time.   

            

On October 12, the students of Inuksuk High School were treated to a special presentation by the Canadian Football League (CFL).  The CFL is currently celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup, a silver trophy commissioned by Governor General Albert Grey to be awarded to the best football team back in 1909.  To promote the celebration, the Grey Cup has been touring all over Canada and Iqaluit would be the furthest north it would travel.  Touring alongside the Cup was former wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts Andre Talbot, who himself is a 2004 Grey Cup champion.  (In 2004, the 92nd Grey Cup match was held in my hometown of Ottawa, Ontario). 

            

The entire student body assembled in the main foyer to see the Grey Cup and hear Andre Talbot speak.  He explained what the Cup meant to him and how much it should mean to everyone in Canada.  He also answered many questions from students, explaining how he got drafted into the CFL, what he's doing now that he's retired, and how he remained focused on his studies & avoided drugs.  Students were also treated to a short video on the history of the Cup.  Even though I'm not that big into sports, I always watched the Grey Cup (and the American Super Bowl) with my father and older brother.  Despite hockey being the sport of choice in Nunavut, students and teachers were still thrilled to see the Grey Cup.

            

After the presentation, t-shirts and official CFL footballs were handed out by CFL representatives.  The Cup remained on display so that teachers and students could pose for pictures.  And Andre Talbot signed autographs.  I got a free t-shirt but didn't have the time to get a photo with the Cup; there was a long lineup.         

            

Moving on to municipal politics, John Graham, the former manager of the Iqaluit Airport, has been elected as mayor with an overwhelming majority.  He received 71 percent of the vote.  Graham was also a Captain in the military but had to retire in order to enter the mayoral race.  He worked at the air cadet squadron as the Administration Officer.  It's hard to believe that I was working alongside a future town mayor.

            

What's also good to hear is that voters have decided to let the town borrow up to $40 million to pay for the new aquatics centre.  However, many are beginning to think that that much money is not needed to build a new pool.  We'll see how it goes but I'm sure many are happy that things are moving forward.  The current pool at The Brown is closed until further notice because of large cracks in the concrete foundations.

            

With October already entering its final two weeks, the Halloween concert I'm planning at the end of the month is quickly approaching.  My musicians are working hard to get the music right and even though I'm starting to get the jitters, I'm sure everything will sound great.  There are still ten more days left for them to practice.