Canadian Forces wrap up Nunalivut 2013

Master Warrant Officer Robert Winton (left), from Joint Task Force North Headquarters and Cpl. Brian Peers, flight engineer, search for any degradations or spills from the fuel barrels at a fuel cache at the Parks Canada warden station at Tanquary Fiord, Nunavut, during Operation Nunalivut. (PHOTO COURTESY OF DND)

Operation Nunalivut 2013, one of the sovereignty operations conducted every year by the Canadian Armed Forces in the High Arctic, ended April 23 with a closing ceremony and parade at Task Force Nunalivut Headquarters in Resolute Bay.

This year’s operation took place in the northwestern portion of the High Arctic islands, with patrols by air, and over land and sea ice.

The operation covered from Resolute Bay west to Mould Bay in the Northwest Territories, and north to Isachsen, on Ellef Ringnes Island in Nunavut, and Tanquary Fiord on Ellesmere Island.

“The Canadian Armed Forces successfully achieved their objectives during Operation Nunalivut by exercising Canadian sovereignty in some of the most isolated and challenging areas of Canada,” said Peter MacKay, national defence minister, in a new release.”The fact that we can deploy our personnel and equipment to remote areas of the High Arctic and sustain our troops throughout the operation clearly demonstrates the Canadian Armed Forces’ capability projection skills.”

Rangers conducted sovereignty patrols between Resolute Bay and Isachsen as well as in Griffon Inlet and Gascoyne Inlet on Devon Island.

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s CC-138 Twin Otters supported the operation by providing tactical airlift and resupply to Ranger patrols on the sea ice.

The CC-138 Twin Otters also provided a platform for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

“The unique knowledge and skills of the Canadian Rangers to operate in this austere environment and the ski-landing capability of the Royal Canadian Air Force CC-138 Twin Otter were both integral to the success of this operation,” said Brigadier-General Guy Hamel, commander of Joint Task Force North. “Operation Nunalivut 2013 provided the perfect opportunity to enhance the capabilities that will allow Joint Task Force (North) to respond to any safety and security challenge in the High Arctic.”