New boss joins Canadian Forces

JOHN THOMPSON

Lt. Col. Drew Artus stepped into his new role as commanding officer of the Canadian Forces Northern Area last week.

For the last three years Artus served as the Department of National Defence’s liaison with the Canadian Space Agency, and he says information gathered from outer space could help the Canadian military perform its duties in the North.

In particular, he points to Project Polar Epsilon, a $59.9 million project to provide surveillance of the Canadian Arctic with information gathered from the new RADARSAT 2 system, scheduled to launch next year.

With only one full day on the job behind him as he spoke with Nunatsiaq News last week, he said he had no plans for drastic changes in the military’s northern operations.

After working at the Clear Air Force station in Alaska in 1989, he said he’s no stranger to -52 C weather. “I know what I’m getting into.”

He describes 2001 as “the best year of his life” in his written bio, when he studied at the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto, Ontario. He remained on salary while attending classes.

“That’s a significant investment in an officer,” he said. It also gave him time to reflect.

“You find out it’s not you who has the answer always,” he said. “If I’m not sure, I pick up the phone and call.”

He plans to focus on recruitment during the next few months, to help fill empty positions and retain existing officers.

High turnover rates affect even the highest ranks, including the commanding officer. Artus steps into the chief role just one year after Colonel Norman Couturier replaced Colonel Norris Pettis, in June 2005.

Artus’ wife, Lori, plans to remain in Cornwall, Ont., for the next year, where she works with handicapped children. After that she plans on joining him. He said he hopes to stay on longer than his predecessors.

“I’m hoping it’s at least two years, and I’m telling my wife, if you come and like it, we’ll stay.”

He said he’s optimistic that the federal government will make good on its pledge to beef up military funding. “In my 24 years in the military, I’ve never heard of a budget that’s so promising,” he said.