Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 21 seconds.
Operation Nunalivut 2014 ended on May 3, 2014, after bringing together a diverse group of military personnel from Canada and the United States for training in the Resolute Bay area of Nunavut. This year’s training started on April 2, and was the biggest and most complex iteration so far in this series of High Arctic operations.
The CC-177 Globemaster III and CC-130J Hercules were used to move troops from their home base to the area of operations, this strategic airlift, combined with the flexibility of the ski-equipped Twin Otters from 440 Transport Squadron, were key enablers for Operation Nunavut. The American LC-130 added its heavy-lift capacity to the operation, and its abilities dovetailed seamlessly with 440 Transport Squadron’s Twin Otter Airlift.
“Operation Nunalivut is a truly collaborative endeavour involving the Canadian Armed Forces, the community, and our Allies and governmental partners,” said Lieutenant-Colonel John St. Dennis, the commanding officer of Task Force Nunalivut.
“Responding to situations in the North requires a team approach. The successes on Operation Nunalivut are an example of how Team North can come together to work effectively and efficiently in an environment that few have had the privilege to experience.”
Quick facts
- Nunalivut means “land that is ours” in Inuktitut.
- More than 100,000 lbs of cargo and 130 passengers were transported by air to austere locations throughout Nunavut.
- 440 “Vampire” Transport Squadron, based in Yellowknife, N.W.T., flew approximately 220 hours, using their CC-138 Twin Otter aircraft, in support of the operation, and a contracted Bell B412 flew more than 60 hours.
- The 109th Airlift Wing from Scotia, New York, participated in the operation for the first time. Unit personnel employed their LC-130 Hercules “Ski-Herc” aircraft to transport equipment and supplies by air throughout the area of operations.
- Members of C Company, 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, traversed nearly 1,000 kilometres of rough sea ice during their patrol around Bathurst Island and in the surrounding area.
- The Combined Dive Team conducted 21 dives, totalling more than 14 hours of underwater time.
- Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) remote operated vehicles, in cooperation with Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Service and SeaBotix Inc., provided new footage of the wreck of the merchant vessel Breadalbane, a national historic site of Canada. This new footage was captured by clearance divers from the Royal Canadian Navy Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The entire archive of footage and associated data will be shared with, and preserved by, the Government of Nunavut and Parks Canada. Twenty-one dives using the remote operated vehicles were conducted to capture more than 25 hours of footage.
- During the operation, CAF troops and Canadian Rangers covered an area that was roughly equivalent to half of the Canadian Arctic.
- Operation Nunalivut is one of Joint Task Force (North)’s annual premier High Arctic operations, combining air, land and maritime operations to exercise interoperability and Arctic skill-sets. Parks Canada, Natural Resources Canada (Polar Continental Shelf Program), the Government of Nunavut and SeaBotix Inc. were valuable players in this year’s exercise.
- The CAF have been present in the North for decades, conducting surveillance and sovereignty operations and contributing to a more visible government presence. The CAF’s primary mission, in the context of the Canada First Defence Strategy, is the protection of Canada, including its most northern regions.
- Through Operation Nunalivut, the CAF demonstrates its readiness and ability to operate effectively in the challenging Arctic environment.
With files from Captain Bonnie Wilken.
