Op Nanook 2013 ends with modest search exercise near Iqaluit

Members of the Arctic Response Company Group from 35 Canadian Brigade Group and RCMP 0fficers loading equipment from the Coast Guard ship near Iqaluit during Operation Nanook 2013 on Aug. 22, the day the exercise wrapped up. (PHOTO BY CAPTAIN DENNIS NOEL, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, DND OTTAWA)

The 2013 version of Operation Nanook wrapped up Aug. 22 with the playing out of a joint military-civilian scenario in which various agencies conducted a mock search-and-rescue of a sick child and his father on Resolution Island near Iqaluit.

“The Iqaluit scenario gave us the opportunity to further develop strong relationships with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Coast Guard, and for solders to gain valuable experience working with the Canadian Rangers,” Brigadier-General Greg Loos, the commander of Joint Task Force North, said in a news release.

The 2013 version of the annual exercise was spread among four locations in the northern territories.

On Aug. 2, exercises got underway in Whitehorse with a mock disaster relief exercise conducted with the City of Whitehorse, the Yukon government and other agencies, who worked to respond to a mock wildfire that threatened the city.

In the weeks that followed, the Canadian Armed Forces and civilian agencies conducted exercises in Nunavut, on Cornwallis Island and King William Island, and wrapped up with an exercise at Resolution Island, down the bay from Iqaluit.

In the Resolution Island scenario, the RCMP, Coast Guard and Canadian Rangers worked with the armed forces in a mock rescue of a father and sick child who were stuck on the island.

That exercise involved a ship-to-ship transfer between the coast guard vessel Pierre Radisson and HMCS Shawinigan.

Exercise participants also received help from an RCAF Twin Otter from Yellowknife and an Aurora long-range patrol aircraft.

“Deploying our military assets with the RCMP was an excellent opportunity to work and train with our northern partners,” Lt.-Commander Suzanne Otchenash said.

Otchenash is the commander of the small JTFN detachment in Iqaluit.