Mark My Words

Faites le saut

2011-03-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Come Make Your Mark has launched in Quebec and my friend Anne-Christine is on the scene in Montreal, Trois-Rivieres and Chicoutimi.

Follow her on:
Twitter @faiteslesaut
Facebook Faites le saut
Wordpress Faites le saut

Thank You All and Farewell

2011-02-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

Well it's been fun; I never imagined when this campaign started that I would end up in a bathroom advertisement hahaha

Visiting the communities of the the Northwest Territories and hearing the stories of people living and working here has been a real honor for me, it's something that not many people ever get a chance to do in their lifetimes. I've been very humbled by the generosity and hospitality i've been shown during my travels.

Honestly, life in the North is not always picture perfect, there are issues here just like anywhere else. If I had to summarize the two main reasons why people come, it would be for the career opportunities and the wilderness.

The ComeMakeYourMark.ca campaign is still ongoing, I encourage you to add your own stories and experiences to the site, to use it as a reference tools for others interested in living and working in the North.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who I encountered during my travels, who helped me along my way and who helped to contribute. This whole endeavor would not have been possible without all of you!

Thanks again and farewell! I leave you with a video we shot with Yellowknife band Erabus & Terror

Off to Ontario

2011-01-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

I'm heading off to Ontario today in advance of the Ryerson career fair on the 24th, I'll be spending some time visiting family and friends and takin' it easy :D

Interestingly enough, Ryerson also has a 'Make Your Mark' campaign going on

Visiting Trinity Helicopters

2011-01-13T14:39:00.000-08:00

Today I was invited to visit the folks at Trinity Helicopters, a small tight knit team, named one of the top Northern employers for 2010 in Up Here Business magazine.

Starting off my tour in their office space, it was astonishing to see the sheer amount of documentation and record keeping that goes into an aviation business. There are tracking systems in place for every facet of the business;

Technical documentation of the aircraft, pilot, engineer and employee exams, training certificates, Material safety data sheets, parts tracking, maintenance and inspection records, flight plans, weight and balance reports; the list goes on and on!

All of these requirements are to help ensure accountability and quality assurance, mandated by the Ministry of Transportation or the manufacturers.

Trinity is also one of the first adopters in Canada to use an electronic flight ticketing system

I got a tour of the hanger and had a look at the helicopters they operate, they are able to access parts of the country that hardly anyone ever gets to see compared to fixed wing aircraft.

They service many of the government agencies, mineral exploration programs, seasonal forestry and wildlife support.

Rob shows off some of the typical gear that gets packed with a helicopter; emergency kits, communications equipment, diagnostic laptops, etc.

Trinity exclusively uses Bell helicopters, this helps cut down on the amount of endorsements required to fly and it helps cut down on parts inventory required for maintenance.

Being a seasonal operator, the good weather months are spent in the air and on the job, the other months are spent on maintenance and training. On any given day the Trinity team is dealing with making sure everything is being properly documented, marketing and planning, logistics and staffing, dealing with partners and looking for new revenue sources

It was a good visit to the Trinity office, with the flight season just around the corner, Rob and Geoff are busy, this season they look forward to having a new hanger completed and expanding their helicopter fleet into other areas around the North.

Being a young company, they look for people who are interested in the North and getting experience. Working in aviation gives you the chance to see some of the most beautiful parts of the country and the quality of life here makes it all worthwhile for the Trinity Team.

Job shadowing @ First Air

2011-01-12T22:21:00.000-08:00

When I started this job shadowing adventure, I couldn't imagine I'd be out at night in -46° C weather shooting photos. For an airline of it's size, First Air is remarkably Northern. They service a huge of the country, the planes often stay outside for long periods of time in all kinds of weather.

I was invited to join the maintenance crew at First Air for part of their regular shifts (4pm-4am, 4 days on 4 days off) every shift is a little different here, the crew works on all different areas of the aircraft and inspects them to ensure they are ready for the next morning, this includes the same kind of pre-flight check the pilots are required to do before departure.

After I arrived and go introduced to the crew, I took a tour of the Maintenance hanger. Every evening the crew gets their query sheet, a list of maintenance items based on flight hours or calendar days. The maintenance is usually routine, unless there has been a problem identified that needs to be fixed or tested to ensure that the issue has been resolved.

On any given night the crew looks after 7 planes, making sure they are safe and ready

I was interested to learn that everything associated with aviation supply and maintenance has to be cataloged and tracked. Every part and piece has to be tracked, for quality assurance purposes and all in accordance to the Ministry of Transportation's standards.

In the cargo bay, items being shipped to Yellowknife and out to the surrounding communities get sorted, stored and ready for delivery.

In this area, window and inner panels needing touch-ups or repairs get taken care of

Here is a Hercules engine currently being rebuilt

A Herc aircraft being worked on in the shop

In the other part of the shop, they're just finishing up work on some final maintenance checks

Inside the cockpit, doing some final diagnostic checks, this plane gets spiffed up before it goes back out to the tarmac

The crew goes over the last details, making sure that everything is set and done. When the bay doors get opened up the temperature is going to drop quickly!

Time to pull out the finished plane and bring the next one in

For someone interested in working in the aviation industry in the North, there is a lot of good and diverse experience to be had.

I chatted with the crew about what they like most about living in the north; of course the great outdoors was the biggest reason; good pay, outdoor activities, the pace of life, a good place to raise a family.

Even when it's freezing cold out, the work still has to be done, you just have to layer up and take breaks to warm up. After they moved in the next plane to be serviced the bay doors are closed up and it's left to warm up before the crews go back to work. Everything takes longer to do in the cold, but on the other hand during the summer months, everything can be done out in the open with lots of sunlight hours

Thanks to all the night crew at First Air, it was great hanging out with you!

New Contest! Win an Ipad or a Hoodie

2011-01-10T14:20:00.000-08:00

Enter at our website http://www.comemakeyourmark.ca/Contest.aspx
or join us at job fairs for more chances to win! Ryerson, University of Windsor, Queens, University of Western Ontario, Dalhousie, NAIT, SAIT, University of Ottawa, and UVic.

DRAW DATE: MARCH 1, 2011

Happy Friday! - The Aurora Borealis

2011-01-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

The best part of winter in the North by far is the Aurora Borealis, visitors come from all over the world to see the Northern Lights, the lights have spawned a legacy of mystique and legends. They were named as such by the French scientist, Pierre Gassendi, in 1621

The name aurora is the Latin word for dawn and refers to the Roman goddess of the dawn, while borealis comes from the name of the Greek god of the north wind, boreas. While the aurora borealis can be seen all year long in Canada, the most likely time to view it is in the fall and winter months, when nights are longer and, unfortunately for unseasoned tourists, temperatures are colder. Because of its location near 62° latitude, 114° longitude, where the most frequent and brilliant manifestations of the Northern Lights occur, many people consider Yellowknife to be the best place in the world for viewing the aurora. Thousands of visitors brave the cold each year for a chance at seeing the show. History

It seems like each culture or tribe has their own unique myth about who or what the auroras are; scientifically, the Auroras are produced by the collision of charged particles from Earth's magnetosphere, mostly electrons but also protons and heavier particles, with atoms and molecules of Earth's upper atmosphere (at altitudes above 80 km (50 miles).

Astronomy North has an amazing site dedicated to the Auroras, including the AuroraMax live webcam

Just outside of Yellowknife is the Aurora Village, As an Aurora viewing destination, Yellowknife boasts the highest percentage of Aurora sightings. The Aurora Ovals are located in the atmosphere in the areas surrounding the Earth’s magnetic poles. Yellowknife is situated in an advantageous position under the Northern Aurora Oval based on magnetic latitude. Yellowknife is far from the ocean with a flat geographical landscape meaning this location has a high percentage of clear skies. These factors, combined with latitudinal position, equals a high probability of Aurora Borealis sightings.

Reality TV

2011-01-06T16:22:00.000-08:00

It's an interesting phenomenon when you tell someone you live in Yellowknife or the Northwest Territories and their eyes light up, chances are they've seen it on tv...

Ice Road Truckers came out of nowhere to become a international smash hit, local personality Alex Debogorski has toured all over North America and abroad, the show has featured locations around the NWT and for better or worse sensationalized the engineering marvels of the ice road.

Then of course we have Buffalo Joe and Mikey the Ice Pilots preparing to launch a second season of thier series, Buffalo Airways flies WWII-era propeller planes – big old aircraft built by "Rosie the Riveter" that have remained virtually unchanged over the years. Classics like the Douglas DC-3 and DC-4 and the Curtiss C-46 Commando – the very planes that once ferried troops and supplies in WWII.

License to Drill a series documenting natural gas drillers, doing exploration in the arctic. The MGM team's base camp is located on the Mackenzie River Delta on the shores of the Beaufort Sea All of the equipment was loaded on to 18 barges in September of 2008 at Inuvik and sailed down the Mackenzie 180 kilometers to the eventual Winter Base Camp, where it waited over 2 months for the Winter to set in and the ground to freeze.

Word spread around Yellowknife today that Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York was at Javaroma shooting part of her own documentary/reality show for The Oprah Winfrey Network called 'Finding Sarah'

Ferguson's staff told CBC News that she spent Wednesday camping, which will be featured on her reality show.

I think it's great that people are so fascinated with the north, for folks who live here, they see it often as funny or sensationalist, but it has helped to popularized the mystique of the North, well that and maybe Sarah Palin's show hahah

Best of Yellowknife

2011-01-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and things have quieted down a bit from the holidays. Over the next couple weeks I'll be covering some of the businesses, activities, events, organizations and locations around Yellowknife that perhaps I have overlooked or not yet covered.

A great resource for the area is YKOnline, created as a hyperlocal blog by Kyle Thomas. I've talked about the site before, but the Yellowknife Quick tips podcast is a great resource for anyone new to the area, so check it out!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

It's been an interesting year 2010, I wonder what 2011 has in store...

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

I'd like to wish everyone out there a safe and happy holidays!

NWT Student Ambassador Pep Rally

2010-12-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome home for the holidays!

We would like to give you the chance to help spread the word to your peers and friends down south about the amazing opportunities available north of 60.

Join your friends at an NWT student pep rally and become an NWT Student Ambassador. Door prizes include 2 iPads, Folk on the Rock tickets and much more!

Performance by Erebus and Terror and be a part of a live video shoot. Great appies and beverages provided by World Catering. *University/College Student ID is required.

As part of the Come Make Your Mark campaign, I was on hand to help out with the event, shooting photos and videos. The Champagne Room was a great venue for this event, we had a great turnout and the food was amazing!!!

Students getting welcomed and signed in

The MC's for the event were Alex and Alex

We had guest speakers from our sponsors BHP Billiton

Rio Tinto

De Beers Canada

Alex making his mark on the whiteboard

There was a lot of giveaways and prizes, each draw was done in pairs of Song Title + Artist, each person was given a song title or an artist and they had to find their pair in order to claim their prize

We gave away a bunch of NWT hoodies

On with Erabus and Terror!

hoodie winners

gift packs from our sponsors

tickets to Folk on the Rocks

Our big door prize draw was for a pair of Ipads, congrats to the winners! Overall it was nice to see so many smiling faces home for the holidays. I hope that these students will pass around the word on the NWT, we'll be seeing many of them during our visit to the job fairs.

EKATI Diamond Mine

2010-12-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

Located 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories (NWT) of Canada, the EKATI Diamond Mine is Canada’s first diamond mine. Annual sales from EKATI represent approximately three per cent of current world rough diamond supply by weight and five per cent by value.

Soon after my return from the delta, I was invited to visit EKATI and take a tour of some of the facilities and participate in a drum dancing and seal mitt making cultural workshop put on by some special guests from Kugluktuk.Photographer Dave Brosha was there doing a series of portraits and making a stop motion video along side the aRTLeSS meDia crew - Pablo, Lesley, Travis and Amos working on their next BHP series documentary, this one on traditional seal mitt making.

After I was picked up by my guide Alex, I went through the orientation process given to everyone who visits the mine site. This covered the history of the company and the mine, the policies and procedures related to the mine site and most importantly safety. I was very impressed by the strong safety culture at the mine, from the moment I got off the plane and throughout my visit there was always a emphasis on safety as a company value.

I was also struck with the amount of murals and artworks that decorated the main buildings, I had imagined something a little more utilitarian.

Then I was off on my tour!

crushed rock, granite, kimberlite, being processed

part of the processing plant, this is where the magic happens

then over to the truck shop

Gingerbread houses in the cafeteria.

I have to say the food at the mine is probably just as good or better than you'd find anywhere else in the territory.

Pablo and Travis setting up in the gym for the drum dance tonight

Dave and Amos getting their cameras ready

Introducing the elders and drum dancers from Kugluktuk!

Pablo let me play with some of his gear and do some filming during the drum dances

I really liked these traditional outfits!

There was an open invitation to give drumming a try, so I figured i'd give it a shot. It's a lot harder than it looks, bend the knees and strike the drum in a fluid water wave motion.

Travis also decided to get in on the drumming action

After the drum dance, we participated in a seal mitt making workshop, I was busy learning how to sew and got about 3/4 of a mitt done by the time the workshop was done haha. Dave and Pablo were busy throughout filming and interviewing the process of making a seal skin mitt.

Check out Dave's video, he did a great job of capturing the whole experience:

Project: Traditional Knowledge from Dave Brosha on Vimeo.

After the workshop and a long day of touring and excitement, I went to my dorm room to get some sleep. Baggage had to be checked in by 7:30 the next morning for our flight back to Yellowknife. I really enjoyed my visit, I think these cultural workshops are a great way of involving their partnerships with the community.

For such a whirlwind tour of the mine site, it was an interesting view into the mining industry. The facilities and equipment were clean and modern, I wish I had more time to spend at the site, since it's such a large segment of employment and history in the north.

Mining utilizes skilled workers and trades from a wide variety of sectors, everything you would need to run a small town essentially, that is what the mine site is.

Tuktoyaktuk

2010-12-02T17:26:00.000-08:00

Last day in the Delta, I met with with the Diavik gang again, everyone seemed to be in good spirits. This time we were off to Tuktoyaktuk

We set-up at the hamlet office and went over to pay a visit to the Mangilaluk School.

The Diavik crew did their presentation to the students, to get them thinking about their futures, their career opportunities and the kinds of development happening in the north.

It was quite fun hanging out with the team from Diavik, I learned a lot about the mining industry in the North and what kind of trades and education are needed, especially in the mining and construction sector, the 2 biggest industries in the north outside of public service.

After the presentation I stuck around to have lunch and chat with some of the teachers at the school. Agnes is the principal at the school, she wanted to try working in the Arctic before she retired. She says that the community is very welcoming and the staff and students are great to work with, they are very much in tune with the latest classroom technologies and curriculum, however working as an educator in a small community can be an interesting challenge.

When talking to some of the staff, they were well prepared before they came, cultural orientation helped transition and explain the differences in expectations and lifestyle. Their advice to educators thinking of teaching in a high arctic community is to be well prepared for adjustments personally and professionally. It takes a lot of self motivation and community involvement to adjust to everything running on it's own schedule.

It was a quiet day in Tuk, so I decided to go out and do a little exploring.

not far from the hamlet office are a couple of traditional dwellings, above was a completed one, the inside was quite warm! Below is an example of one currently in construction.

Arctic cemetary

During a chat sessions at one of the Diavik presentations I got to meet an interesting man by the name of Charles, he passed along a couple of local sayings:

There's always an element of trying in our way of life

Bring back the fresh air, when you return in the springtime!

Frosty cameraman

Love the Christmas lights!

After it got dark it started getting colder, so I rejoined the Diavik crew through their last presentation. After we said our thank you's and good byes, it was time to board our charter flight back to Yellowknife :)

After this trip I was exhausted, physically and mentally, time to get some rest, before heading out on my next trip!

Inuvik Day 2

2010-12-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

Back in Inuvik and I had a very busy day ahead, my first stop was to pay a visit to the Gwich'in Tribal Council offices. With a small staff and a big mandate, Wanda and the team have a lot on their plates. This includes the Tribal Council, The Gwich'in Settlement Corporation, the Gwich’in Development Corporation (the “GDC”), The Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute and a number of co-management boards and series of departments.

It's truly amazing to see the amount of energy and effort being put in by these folks on behalf of their membership. They benefit from having the right people dedicated to making a difference. If you are curious about coming to Inuvik, she recommends you do your research and consider what expectations you have, whatever your reason for coming; be open, accepting and passionate about what you want to accomplish.

Then it was my chance to meet with Denny, the mayor of Inuvik. Coming from Newfoundland he's seen much of the east and western arctic, since settling in Inuvik he's held a number of positions in the community and now has the challenge of administering one of the North's best kept secrets. Denny relates it to being a community ombudsman in one of the busiest, most culturally diverse towns above the arctic circle. With all the amenities you might expect to find in a larger city, Inuvik has something to offer to everyone. There are plenty of opportunities in Inuvik and Denny welcomes anyone thinking of coming to visit, live and work. Come with an open mind, prepare for an adventure and expect to be surprised!

While I was in the office, I was presented with my official Certificate of the Arctic Circle Chapter, Order of Adventurers to celebrate my visit :)

I managed to get a peek inside the Igloo Church

In the afternoon I visited with Sue at the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, everyone was hustling around, many members out of town on business, it's impressive to see the fusion of corporate and traditional cultures. The IDC is one of the regions largest employers, One hundred percent Inuvialuit owned, IDC made its first investment of $10 million in 1977. The corporation started small; mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and successes were celebrated. The business arm of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC), IDC has cultivated a diversified, growth-oriented portfolio. We have built a strong asset base, reporting assets greater than $209 Million in 2008. Committed to building a sustainable legacy for our shareholders, IDC has delivered these outstanding results while maintaining our headquarters in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

After a tour of the offices I had a look at the gift shop

I met up with Ali, the manager of the Capital Suites and we went out to check out the mosque and tour around Inuvik.

Ali has worked all over the world, but he loves Inuvik for the friendly people and living and working as an adventure, the beauty of the wildlife and the opportunities which draws people from all over the world.

As you walk around town you’ll notice little shed like structures running between buildings. These are utilidors.

There are two basic types of utilidors although there are a number of variations in construction materials. Some are made of wood, others of steel and aluminum. The two types are those that have the water and sewage lines and the high temperature heating system. The other carries only the water and sewage lines. The utilidors with the heating system use the heat lost to keep the water running. In the utilidor with only water and sewage lines, the hot water is heated and the cold water line runs beside the hot water line using the heat to keep the water running even at the coldest temperatures. The lines from the main utilidor to each house are called utilidette

My last stop of the day was to meet up with Colin and have a look at the incredible facilities in the Midnight Sun Complex one of the real gems in Inuvik.

Featuring tropical themed pool

Curling rink

24/7 Fitness centre and weight room

Arena and Olympic torch

there's also squash courts, children's play area, concession stands, meeting rooms and lounges, a very well stocked and well rounded facility!

Thanks Inuvik!

Fort McPherson

2010-11-30T15:13:00.000-08:00

I joined the Diavik team on a morning charter flight to Fort McPherson, they are visiting many of the communities in the delta region to make presentations to the community about working at the mine and setting up a regular charter flight from the Delta region to increase their Northern workforce.

First stop was the school, the Diavik team did a presentation to some of the older kids, I decided to duck out and go tour around the town for a bit.

I went down to the hamlet office to meet with Hazel, she's the mayor as well as the probation officer, her days are filled with looking after people in the community under probation orders, doing community service, making restitution, etc. The rest of the time she is busy working with the hamlet councilors and staff to ensure that the community services are being taken care of, in her off time she likes to spend time with her family and her grandkids.

I dropped in to the Northern store to talk to Eliza and Shane, they both originally hail from the east coast and now live and run the Northern store in Fort McPherson. For a small community, the store handles everything from food, clothes, bill payments, furniture, snowmobiles, parts even tuxedo and dress rentals for grad!

They enjoy the pace of life in a small community, where you know everyone and their dog by name. But they warn managing a store means being married to the store, it's a daily challenge to live and work in a community where self-sufficiency is the way of life.

After the Northern store, I paid a visit to the nursing staff at the William Firth Health Centre. I talked with Carol, she's worked all over the world in places like India and Africa before settling in Fort McPherson. She really enjoys the wide scope of practice that a nurse experiences in the north, there is more job freedom and a more personal connection to the patients you are treating. Carol really loves the simple life, no commute to work, less stressful work environment, quiet after hours and a safe place to raise a family.

While nursing in the north can be very liberating professionally, you have to be flexible, assume that conditions aren't perfect and that you'll be treating a wide variety of conditions. The important thing is to work with your colleagues as a team as well as with the other community support services.

I spoke with Jason, he's worked all over the NWT as a nurse, he enjoys the challenge of his work and seeing the direct outcomes of making a positive impact on his patients health. He recommends to anyone thinking of working as a health professional in the North to have strong clinical and assessment skills, are both important to clinics in the north. It's an excellent opportunity to have an adventure and get experience that you would not find anywhere else in Canada.

I met with Angel, she came to Fort McPherson with her husband who is in the RCMP. Having her bachelor's in social work and a minor in aboriginal studies gave her the opportunity to work in the community doing support services and child protection work.

She enjoys the nice simple life here, no rush traffic and racing against the clock. She recommends that anyone willing to take advantage to give it a try. As long as you're prepared to do a little more shopping online instead of the mall and be willing to become part of the community it can be a wonderful life experience.

Next it was my chance to visit the famous Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas shop.

I was fortunate enough to visit with Mary, one of the elders in the hamlet.We had a good chat over some tea and talked about growing up on the lands around Fort McPherson and traveling by dog sled. She was one of the stars featured in Dennis Allen's documentary CBQM about the radio station that serves the community, if you want a good picture of what a northern community looks like and feels like, it's a great introduction!

After supper, I was looking for a place to keep warm and rest until the Diavik presentations started so I went to the community center. There I ran into Thea, a German PhD student doing work on psychological health in northern Dene communities.

Around 7ish, it was time to meet up with the Diavik team and check out their community presentation.

After the presentation we loaded up and headed back to Inuvik, we got in around 11, I was totally beat.

Inuvik Day 1

2010-11-29T14:35:00.000-08:00

My first day in Inuvik, I was invited to drop in at the Investment, Tourism and Industry office in town to help get oriented and set up some interviews. I really have to hand it to the team there, they really did a great job of helping get in contact with people around town and giving me a base of operations to work from.

We had a great discussion about what makes the Beaufort Delta region such an interesting place to live. The breathtaking environment is vibrant, people live and work together without much attention placed on hierarchy or class. There is a lot to be learned from the locals, so be warned; you should expect to leave something behind when you come to live in the north. Coming just for the money will only get you so far, it's what you give back to the community that will sustain you.

I went to browse some of the amazing arts and crafts at Originals and to visit with owner Arlene, who is celebrating 20 years of business this year. She came to Inuvik on a one way ticket in the late 70's looking for adventure, since then she has been involved with everything from municipal politics to the chair of the Great Northern Arts Festival. Her advice to someone thinking of coming to Inuvik is to come with an open mind, you'll probably know by your first day if you love it or not. Living in Inuvik is a once in a lifetime opportunity, you have to be creative with your entertainment and community minded with you time, ultimately you get out of it what you put in.

I met up with Kyle, the operator of Up North Tours, he told me about coming up to live in Invuik as a teenager from Ontario and being inspired to start his own tourism business. During the summer and winter months Kyle is busy working out on the land, he has to make sure to schedule extra time in his day for all the socializing he does while running errands in town. Moving from the rat race to the kind of relaxed environment of the North was a welcome change, he used to have to chase work living in the south, now the work chases him!

I dropped in to visit Peter, the NWT Executive Regional Director and Paul the Regional Supervisor, they both started their Northern careers in very different places; Peter as an outdoor biologist, Paul as a commercial helicopter pilot. They both love living in a place where the outdoor playground is at their doorstep and being heavily involved in community activities. For Peter, he enjoys the challenge of problem solving and coordinating for the region, helping such a diverse community come together to make a difference. Paul has been a dedicated hockey
coach and organizer, there is opportunity to fill many volunteer voids in the community and take on different roles as time goes on. The real test is managing too many opportunities and commitments while balancing a normal work/life.

I ventured over to City Hall to visit with Larry, he looks after the economic development in the community. Originally from Labrador, Larry loves living in a a town like Inuvik, big enough for the amenities one might need, but small enough to know everyone. With such a diverse community of cultures from all over the world, Inuvik seems far from being a remote, isolated community as it appears on the map. Larry sees it as part of the Northern mystique, people who are resilient and enjoy the adventure of living in a place that not everyone could survive in.

I chatted with Darelene, also of Newfoundland, she is the town's tourism coordinator, together with Larry they look after the Inuvik Petroleum Show. Darelene likes it here because "It's not as cold as Newfoundland!" She sees the North as the land of opportunity, with many of her own family visiting and settling in the community and so many different cultures working and living together, you get a variety of everything in town.

My last stop of the day (and one of the last stops on the road) was with Aiden over at Northwind Industries, you might know the shop from Season 2 of Ice Road Truckers they work on the ice road to Tuktoyaktuk, deal with supply trucking as well as heavy equipment operations and construction. Aiden came on board as a way to explore the Arctic, he enjoys the slower paced, less stressed lifestyle. Being semi-retired, Aiden finds it's a great way to give back and pass along his skills and see as much of the North as possible.

Weekend in Inuvik

2010-11-27T09:03:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Inuvik on Friday afternoon, weary and stressed at the daunting task of having to cancel and replace all my id's,bank card,credit card, file a missing wallet report and somehow get by in Inuvik with a little bit of cash on me and knowing absolutely no-one in town. I checked into my room at the Capital Suites and unpacked all my gear to see if my wallet had gotten misplaced.. still no luck. About the same time I got a visit from Ali, the hotel manager, he told me not to worry that I would be well looked after while I was visiting, what a relief!

So over the weekend I wandered around town taking photos, there's a great blog out there with a lot of photos of the area and information about the town if you are curious about the Inuvik experience.

You may recognize some of the scenery from a Tropicana commercial that came out earlier this year

Of course the big event over the weekend was the
Great Northern Arts Festival's Christmas Arts, Crafts and Gift Fair

Thanks to Ali I was able to borrow some money to buy myself that handsome pair of blue delta braid seal mitts, I'm glad I bought them too, because they are super warm!!!

Norman Wells Day 2

2010-11-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

or better known as 'The day I lost my wallet'

I remember paying for my cab that night in front of the Inn last night, but could not find my wallet at all this morning. Of course I still had a full day planned, so I had to check and repack all my gear and check the surrounding businesses to see if anyone had turned it in.

Unfortunately I had no such luck, which made this adventure a whole lot more interesting. Luckily one of my co-workers had given me some cash to buy her something at the Inuvik craft-show, I ended up using it for food and expenses.

My first interview of the day was with a man called Mop, originally from Alberta, he manages Flint Field Services here in Norman Wells and he's quite proud of their safety record, 10 years without an injury. They support the oil and gas industry and work helping maintain and transport fuel with a variety of specialized heavy vehicles.

Mop says that coming north had opened up vast opportunities for him and really changed his life, he met his wife in town, it's a great place to raise a family, he also runs a business on the side called Mop Services. He recommends to anyone thinking of coming to Norman Wells to give it a chance, you'll quickly realize if you really like it or not. The pace is not hectic most of time, the money is good - but when it's busy, you're busy!

My next stop was to visit Imperial Oil, I sat down with Sandy and Nik to talk about what it's like to work for the major industry and largest employer in town. Many of the wells are based on a series of 6 artifical islands and 2 natural islands sitting in the Mackenzie river, the sweet crude oil produced in Norman Wells is piped down to Alberta, natural gas is used to power the facility as well as supplied to the town to generate power. An operation like this has many technical and engineering challenges, everything from maintaining wells and building ice-roads to access the wells during winter, to operating helicopters and a entire marine unit during the summer months.

There are great opportunities available for those who have Pipelines Operation training and grads coming out of technical schools. But workers looking north should understand what they are getting into; it's a good idea to go for a visit before making the commitment to move to the community.

For Nik, it feels like being on a 5+ years camping trip, away from the crowds and the noise of urban living he enjoys the pace of life and being able to cross the road and walk into the wilderness. Sandy raised her family here as well, she really enjoys the people in the community and the Sahtu region, they make you feel very welcome.

My last stop before leaving for Inuvik had to be to the Norman Wells Historical Society. I have to say they probably have one of the most impressive giftshop / museums in the territory! Covering everything from traditional Dene lifestyles, to early aviation and mining, as well as the development of the Norman Wells oilfield. It features a large selection of items from the (in)famous CANOL project

After my visit to the museum it was time to grab my gear and head off to Inuvik, wallet missing and all.

Onward and upward!

Deline

2010-11-25T14:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the
Birthplace of Hockey

The landscape around the little lake is almost exactly the same as when Sir John Franklin and his men wintered in Deline, according to a letter he wrote to British geologist, Sir Roderick Murchison "We endeavour to keep ourselves in good humour, health, and spirits by an agreeable variety of useful occupation and amusement. Till the snow fell the game of hockey played on the ice was the morning’s sport. At other times Wilson's pipes are put in request, and now and then a game of blind man's bluff; in fact any recreation is encouraged to promote exercise and good feeling . . ."

I was picked up at the airport by Leonard, the town's Economic Development officer, while we toured around the community and visited his office, he told me a lot about what is happening in the community these days. There is a lot of focus on developing a sustainable tourist industry for the area, which already has a great reputation for big game hunting and world class fishing, plus having the claim of being the birthplace of hockey.

Leonard himself was inspired to get involved in the community government by Chief John Tetso, there have been many lessons learned over the years, but with negotiations for self government currently in the final stages (a process that has been ongoing for 10+ years) he says the future looks bright.

I got to sit down with Orlena, who works as Environmental Liaison for remediation projects in the Great Bear Lake / Sahtu area. she has worked on the Deline Uranium team, doing research and remediation projects, gathering oral histories and genealogies of the residents affected by the legacy of Port Radium.

For Orlena, it's been an important way not only to improve her language skills and learn more about her culture and community, but also to get the message out to others about the history and risks that came with the first atomic bomb.

She gave me a copy of 'If Only We Had Known: The History of Port Radium As Told by the Sahtuot'ine' and a couple od dvd's Village of Widows and Moving Foward Together both worth checking out! I also got a copy of the Deline First Nations' 1st Men's Hand Game Tournament dvd put on this year :)

It was soon time for lunch so I headed over to the Grey Goose Lodge, I managed to catch a snap of someone out in their parka who had biked down to the Northern store,

After lunch, I went over to visit the school and meet with Trent, originally from Nova Scotia, he has worked all over the world. He decided to come to Deline on a job offer at the school, now he's helping out with everything from coaching sports to the community recycling program. Trent suggested to anyone thinking of moving to a small community to research and prepare, know what you're getting into.

It helps if you know what you are and what your looking to get out of the experience, you have to be flexible and patient. I think the best piece of advice is just to know that you don't know everything, living in a community presents a real learning opportunity.

After my visit to the school I sat down with Christina, the Senior Administrative Officer for the community, she looks after every area of municipal services, everything from the water treatment plant to making sure the airport is routinely maintained and helping to address community concerns. In a community like Deline it's tough to have time outside your job when your responsibilities are a 24/7 commitment. But being close to family and having the opportunity to make a difference in the community makes it worthwhile, especially when the community comes together for celebrations and family events.

Things were quite busy around the community, on Monday many ex-NHL'ers were coming to town so the arena and the ice had to be in perfect condition for some serious hockey time. I chatted with Gloria the Recreation Coordinator for a bit about all the activities available for people in the community. To Gloria Deline is one big family, she runs everything from afterschool activities and looking after the arena to fitness programs for the elders and coordinating with volunteers for community events.

I visited with Irene the Justice Coordinator, so many people in the community were proud to talk about how they had no youth court in the community for many years. She chalks this up to keeping the youth active and busy, with everything from recration to taking them out on the land and passing on the traditional knowledge.

Just before heading off to catch my flight, I had a quick chat with Arsenne, he works as a Youth Coordinator and on special projects within the community. I asked him about what he would recommend to someone interested in living in a community like Deline. He recommends to people coming from the south to remember that the south is much more time oriented than the north, to enjoy a slower paced lifestyle you have to relax your sense of time. Coming to a new community can be tough, many times you have to earn the respect of the people you are living with, but if you respect the people, respect the land and be sure to dress warm, it takes a few years for your body to acclimatize itself, even from different geographic regions.

Norman Wells Day 1

2010-11-24T14:30:00.000-08:00

Yellowknife to Norman Wells

My trip started the way it usually happens, I finished packing and double checking my gear the night before and got to the airport with enough time to catch my flight.

Then it was time to hop on the plane and fly off to Norman Wells. Of course not knowing what to expect over the course of the next week, I just assumed that something interested would happen. I had my backpack full of clothes misrouted to Inuvik, so I spent the first few days of my trip in the same clothes. No sweat! hahaha

Luckily in Norman Wells I was met by David from North-Wright Airways who toured me around town and helped look after me while I was visiting. There was already a full afternoon planned out for me, so I soon checked into the Rayuka Inn and carried on to go visit some folks around town. Of course our first stop was a tour of the North-Wright offiices, they serve the majority of flights in the Sahtu region and are one of the major employers in the area. They offer everything from tour packages to charter and scheduled flights, North-Wright's corporate ownership structure includes 51% equal ownership by the Deline Land Corporation and the Yamoga Land Corporation, and 49% owned by long time Northerners Carolyn and Warren Wright.

After my tour at North-Wright I dropped by the arena to check out the ice being put in and chat with the Recreation Director, Lindsay. He originally came to the NWT to work during the summer as a student and ended up staying. By age 24 he was already managing at one of the largest moving companies in the North and now he gets to play hockey 4 nights a week and looks after all the recreation facilities and programs in Norman Wells.

Like Lindsay says 'Life's too short, come experience the North!'

Then I was off to visit Hodgson's Contracting to hang out with the crew and find out how what started with a couple trucks and a loader has become a leading employer in town.

David, like many in the community, thrives on the challenges the seasons bring. Hodgson's looks after everything from building ice roads, oil field support to street maintenance and looking after the goods when they arrive on the barge.

I toured around the shop and got to chat with a few of the guys, Steve came to Norman Wells to join some of his other friends from his home community in Newfoundland. Like many guys who come North, he met his wife here and really loves being able to balance out his career with his life. It's easy to understand looking out at the mountain ranges in the distance how the surrounding unspoiled country gets into your blood.

The final stop on my first day in the 'Wells was Whiponic Wellputer, there I met with Peter and Riley and talked a lot about the great opportunities for apprentices, trade workers and general contractors here. The money's good and so is the opportunity for learning and getting well rounded experience. Compared to places like Fort McMurray, you get the chance to work close to home and travel to many of the surrounding communities.

That was it for Day 1, tomorrow I'm off to visit Deline for the day and then back to Norman Wells before heading off to Inuvik.

Off to the Beaufort-Delta

2010-11-23T14:18:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I will be flying off to Norman Wells courtesy of First Air, there I will begin a fantastic journey around the Arctic.

I'll be visiting Norman Wells for a couple days and get a chance to tour around with North Wright Airways to visit Deline, Colville Lake and Fort Good Hope! After returning to Norman Wells, I'll be carrying on to Inuvik just in time for the Christmas Craft Fair :)

Next week I've been invited to join a Diavik charter flight going to Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tuktoyaktuk as part of their jobs recruiting campaign.

I've got my packing list together, i'm excited and nervous about this trip, it's my first time so far North! I just hope that the weather cooperates :)

Fort Simpson Day 2

2010-11-18T14:53:00.000-08:00

Gggggoooooood Mornin'
Fort Simpson!

The morning sky was radiant on Thursday, so I ran out and got some sunrise photos down by the river. I happen to run into Morgan from Simpson Air also out taking some early morning snaps.

My first visit of the day was with Aaron over at the Friendship Centre, there he takes care of everything from administrative duties to event programming even a little janitorial work. He's originally from Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, where he grew up working trades and training in Judo. His advice to those thinking of coming North for a social work career is to be aware what you're getting into; There are many differences between rural life and urban life, there are larger distances between communities in the North and different availabilities of amenities. There are lots of opportunities for social workers in the North, having a degree can get you a good job in many areas. You'll be exposed to a lot of front line work and often have a variety of duties and responsibilities. The best way to survive is to get involved in the community, build your social networks, the more involved you are the better understanding you'll have and the more support you'll get from the community.

Roxanna is the editor and reporter extraordinaire at the Deh Cho Drum she came to the North after finishing journalism school and has been at the helm of the paper for almost 5 years now. In a bit of reversed roles we sat down for a short interview at her office. Originally from Southwestern Ontario, Roxanna really enjoys the lifestyle in the North, less stress and more opportunities and the closeness of living in a small community. For other journalists looking at the North, Roxanna says you can expect to learn a lot in a short period of time, you'll end up covering every style of story and get the chance to cover all sorts of different events in and around the community. It's a great opportunity to get a wide variety of career experience and a chance to challenge your own abilities, but it's so worth it.

It's National Addictions Awareness Week in Fort Simpson and the RCMP were out grilling for a community BBQ, all through the week there has been community events and family activities. This afternoon I met up with local blogger and community social worker Alex, while we waited for our burgers we chatted about community involvement and outdoor recreation during the winter months. Alex originally hails from Nova Scotia, when he's not busy with work or volunteering at Friendship Centre, he's outdoors with his dogs snowshoeing or skiing, helping to clear and maintain the local trails. I think the best advice I've gotten about keeping active outdoors was, There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing.

My last stop of the afternoon was to the Open Sky Creative Society Gallery to visit with organizer Michael and visiting artist Joseph Purcell.The Open Sky Creative Society was first formed in 1999 by local artists and supporters, it quickly grew to encompass the Open Sky Festival and the Open Sky Gallery, the only active non-profit, non-governmental, artist, & cultural supporter run organization. Michael enjoys the flexibility of splitting his time between working at the gallery and working as a river guide during the summer months. There are lots of funding and grant opportunities for practicing artists in the North, the challenge is finding venues to display work and traveling to other locales to show off your work.

Joseph Purcell recommends that any serious artist coming North should pack as many art supplies as they can carry, come with an open mind: open to different mediums and utilizing natural materials. Inspired by his Acadian heritage, Purcell's work explores his interest in entomology, Art Nouveau, classic illustration, Meso-American and other Aboriginal arts. As part of his work in Fort Simpson he's been collecting local insect species for trade and sale on Insectnet.com as well as working on series of illustrations and prints. Purcell sees Fort Simpson as a well kept secret, friendly people among a kind of harsh paradise filled with wondrous landscapes and wilderness, a new frontier to explore.

After my interview it was time to grab my stuff and hitch a ride to the airport, luckily enough I managed to catch a ride with a friendly guy at the Nahanni Inn coffee shop. After a small delay with our plane I was back to Yellowknife later that night safe and sound!

Fort Simpson Day 1

2010-11-17T14:52:00.000-08:00

The night I got in to Fort Simpson I paid a visit to Lindsay at Kiwi Electric, you can guess by the name that he's originally from the South Island of New Zealand. He came to Canada to satisfy his travel bug and eventually settled in Fort Simpson in the late 70's. Since then he has put down roots and has been a part of every facet of the community; from the Fire Department / Ambulance, Foster Parent, Music Coordinator for the Open Sky Festival to Chamber of Commerce and Village Council. For Lindsay, the North is a place for self discovery, a place to get your passions out there and become part of the evolution of the community.

My first interview of the day was with Terry, the Superintendent for the Deh Cho Divisional Education Council. Terry originally hails from Ontario and has worked as a teacher all across the North. Her advice to teachers and educators looking to come North is to come with an open mind, be prepared for a totally new experience, it's an incredible opportunity and the pay is excellent! If you want to make a difference, the key is becoming part of the community, you will be expected to wear many hats in your day to day job as well as outside of the classroom. It's important that you build a support network with colleges and friends in the community, they'll be almost like your new family and help keep you stabilized.

It's Movember in Fort Simpson, many of the Parks staff are sporting their 'staches, so I'm in good company! I visited with Doug, a biologist at Parks Canada also hailing from Northern Ontario, an interest in wildlife brought him North to work in Nahanni National Park Reserve. During the summers he might be hopping on a helicopter or float plane to do some field work or collecting data. In the winters he does his organizing, analysis and desk work. His favorite part of the job is getting to see the land in the most natural state, his advice for someone coming to work in the North is be properly prepared; having proper clothes, warm footwear, survival gear in your vehicle so you can get out and enjoy the outdoors.

While at the Parks office I got to talk with Eric, he started with Parks Canada as a summer student and has been developing his career thanks to the career development program. Now he is on the path to becoming a Associate Superintendent. Eric likes the good team effort of working at Parks, being able to spend time with his young family and raise them in a place not impacted by industrial development.

Hilda is one amazing lady, she works as a Human Resource Officer is an avid golfer, grandmother and gardener. I got to hear some of her stories of growing up on the land and we talked about employment in the North. Many of the jobs she advertises nationally are specialized positions, usually after being posted locally. She advises workers looking northward to be open minded and be willing to give the lifestyle a chance. You'll have the opportunity to experience different cultures, enjoy the fresh air and a slower paced lifestyle. But she warns, those who come expecting to impose their values may be in for a little bit of a shock.

I met up with Morgan, pilot for Simpson Air and avid photographer, he came up from Northern Ontario and loves the friendly environment of the North. During the winter Simpson Air runs charter flights to provide services to the nearby communities, in the summer it's mainly tourism to Nahanni National Park, fishing trips and river adventures. Morgan enjoys the freedom the North offers, there is a more common sense approach to challenges. He enjoys the seasons of the North because it offers the kind of light that you desire in photography, but you really have to see it for yourself, it's all about the experience.

Owen Rowe is passionate about giving back to his community, he just finished constructing a NHL Sized outdoor rink for his community so the kids could get out on the ice earlier than the indoor rink in town. Rowe's Construction is one of the largest employers in the area, they look for people willing to commit to the community and train those who will reinvest in the community "We take particular pride in the fact that 95 % of our staff are northerners, and approximately 70% are either of aboriginal descent or individuals that were born in the north.
Additionally, it is our company policy, to not only buy local, but to re-invest profits back into the north. This policy has helped to not only develop the local market, but has also seen the company asset base grow to approximately 3.5 million dollars."

Working as an RCMP can be a tough job, especially in the north where there is a large area to cover with fewer resources. I got to chat with Constable Lawson, originally from Pangnirtung, Nunavut. Typically RCMP officers do not choose their first assignment, in the NWT it's a 5 year commitment to the territory, in fly-in communities it's usually a 2 year stint, 3 years for communities on the road system.

I capped off the day by visiting Lindsay to take some photos and talk about his album 'No Straight Line' and was treated to an impromptu jam session, thanks dude!

Welcome to Fort Simpson

2010-11-16T17:23:00.000-08:00

I flew in to Fort Simpson this afternoon, toured around the community, dropped off my gear, made some arrangements for tomorrow and did my first interview. Time to grab some grub and get some sleep!

Community gifts

2010-11-15T16:51:00.000-08:00

As I've been traveling, I've been thinking of things I can give away to people as a thank you. I'm always armed with a stack of cards with the Come Make Your Mark website address on it and some nifty metal zipper pulls with the Come Make Your Mark logo. These are great to hand out to folks who have taken the time to do an interview or have helped me out along the way.

As I prepare to visit some of the more isolated communities in the High Arctic, it seems like I should do something special. Not many people get to visit these places and it's a once in a lifetime chance for me to see a part of the world people rarely get to visit. I've been planning on what I should be packing, what provisions I'll need and what gifts I should bring to give out to the community.

I've heard of coffee & donuts from Tim Horton's, KFC and other fast food, Any ideas?

6 weeks in

2010-11-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

It's the end of week 6 here and so far it's been a blast! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this campaign, but I've gotten to visit places and experience things that many people in the south or here in the north would never have the opportunity to do.

I'm flattered by the amount of hospitality and generosity I've been shown on my travels, it's been a very humbling and rewarding experience so far. I just want to give everyone a quick reminder that the 'Come Make Your Mark with Mark' contest is soon coming to a close, so get your entries in!

Have a good weekend y'all

Lest We Forget

2010-11-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

-John McCrae

Next up Fort Simpson

2010-11-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

I just got confirmation that I will be visiting Fort Simpson next week, I'll be flying down on First Air on Tuesday. I'm not sure what the plans are yet, but i'm sure i'm in for an interesting visit :)

Fort Simpson is located adjacent to Nahanni National Park probably one of the most spectacular places to visit in the NWT. I don't think I'll get much of a chance to visit there on this trip, but it's definitely on list of summer destinations. Check out this Parks Canada video and you'll see why:

Chili and Catch-up

2010-11-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

Well it's good to be back in Yellowknife, I've been busy catching up on work, compiling follow-ups and thank yous to the kind folks in Fort Smith who helped along with my visit. I also made an appearance in this week's issue of the Slave River Journal

Today I spent some time at the Greenstone Building slinging my homemade veggie chili at the Chilli Challenge for Charity put on by the local DFO - Central and Arctic Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada. There was a really great turnout by contestants and hungry judges alike, my batch of chili was gone within an hour!

Driving from Fort Smith to Yellowknife

2010-11-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

I got up first thing on Friday morning, fueled up and hit the road so I could be at the Salt River Plains before sunrise;

The Salt Plains cover a total area of 370 km2. They are unique in Canada, and are one of the reasons Wood Buffalo National Park was designated as a World Heritage Site. They are formed by water that has percolated through underground salt deposits left by an ancient sea around 390 million years ago. At the location of the Salt Plains, impermeable bedrock has forced the saline water to the surface. As the water evaporates, salt deposits are left behind.

The bear sign made me a little wary, especially after talking to Karl Johnston about some of his wildlife encounters, there were lots of animal tracks, but none to be seen.

The white stuff you see in the stream bed is salt not snow. I tasted it to make sure ;)

After the sunrise, I hit the road once again, my plan was to make it back to Yellowknife before it got too dark. Just down the highway I spotted Bison having some breakfast

I also came across a pack of wolves crossing the road, this one was keeping watch while the others crossed.

Further down the road, I came into a little bit of traffic, behind a purple gorilla on a scooter...?

Along the highway just outside of Fort Smith there is a fun collection of teddy bears and stuffed animals all sitting in chairs along the road. If you ever get a chance stop and say hello!

Can you spot the fox, chilling out in the grass?

Time to hop on the Merv Hardie

A herd of Bison just outside of Fort Providence

The weather between Fort Providence and Yellowknife got a little rough, so I took it slow and stopped in at Rae to get some gas. I ended up giving someone a ride out to their camp outside of town to go see their doggies and got in to Yellowknife a little after 7.

I have to say I really lucked out on this trip, the road conditions were great and the weather was unseasonably warm. Visiting Fort Smith was a real pleasure, for such a small town it is full of hidden gems and surprises. I'd like to give a big thanks to Mike and everyone in Fort Smith who welcomed me and sat down to chat about living and working there. If you are open to culture and new experiences, interested in the outdoors and enjoy being a community person, than Fort Smith might be the place for you :)

I think the best way to sum up my experience is a quote from Mike, he said "The North is big enough to accommodate a lot of dreams" and that seemed to be a running theme in town. There are many, many passionate and talented people who are doing a lot of amazing things to give back to their community and building their dreams. I have to say I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

Fort Smith Day 2

2010-11-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

First thing I did Thursday morning was jaunt over to meet Paddlefest organizer and Fort Smith Paddling Club President, Kirsten. Kirsten came to Fort Smith with her husband a few years ago and within a week fell in love, she had never paddled before coming to Fort Smith now she's President of the Paddling Club. There are lots of outdoor enthusiasts in the area and plenty of opportunities to get involved in whatever your interest is in. I've heard a lot of good things about the growing international popularity of Paddlefest and the significance of the Slave River, historically, ecologically and recreationally.

Paddlefest started a few years ago with a handful of people, now it draws hundreds of paddlers from across the country and around the world. What makes Slave River such a world class attraction? The Slave River is famous for it's whitewater rapids, these range from easy class I to unrunnable killer class VI holes. Check out this video tour of each of the river rapids, I can see why paddlers love it so much!

Slave River 2009 from Jacqui Whitehead on Vimeo.

I stopped in at TDC Contracting to talk with Terry about running the family business and the types of year-round services that keep this place humming with activity. From supplying fleets, delivering heating oil, towing services to heavy equipment / auto repair there is always a demand for skilled trade workers at this shop.

I have to give Terry a special mention and a big THANK YOU, after all my running around on Thursday I locked my keys in the car. Of course after feeling very foolish, we called Terry and he came right over and had my car opened for me in a matter of seconds!

In the afternoon I paid a visit to Northwestern Air, one of the largest employers in town, family run company and the hub for air transport for the community. I talked to Gord the General Manager about the challenges of running a small airline and his experiences being a transplant to the community.

The pilots, mechanics and staff who come through the doors of Northwestern Air come from all over to gain experience and pursue career opportunities that are second to none in the airline industry. In any given day an employee can wear many different hats, from loading luggage and taking care of planes, to assisting with bush firefighting and plane maintenance. I liked what Gord said about being patient, putting in the time and doing the work. There is real opportunity to grow into a career and become part of the community.

For lunch I met with local adventure photographer Karl Johnston, His photos have won awards, and has gained him a staff photographer with F-Stop gear. With a diversity of subject and style Karl has built up a very impressive portfolio, for him, it's all about the lifestyle and a passion for showcasing the beauty of his home.

We talked about adventure photography, which he equates to fishing: you have to know your locations, know the environment and the weather. Going out into the wild to shoot is more than throwing a camera in the car and driving out to snap some photos, there are natural elements and wildlife to contend with, (including once coming face to face with a momma grizzly bear!) The thing that really stands out about Karl's work is his ability to capture the moment, in a genuine northern experience.

After lunch I dropped in for a quick chat with Blaine at Lou's Small Engines. Blaine is a soft spoken guy, born and raised in a town with many avid outdoor recreation enthusiasts, outdoor recreation is a big part of Northern life. His advice to anyone thinking of coming north is to come with an open mind and give it all four seasons, the North grabs you and Fort Smith grabs you that much tighter.

After a quick visit to Alberta, I visited the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre they have quite an amazing collection of displays and artifacts from the town, the local wildlife and the aboriginal community.

I also got to meet CANUS the 'Elvis of the Whooping Crane population'

I toured through the Fort Smith Recreation and Community Centre an amazing facility, with a lot to offer the entire community. Everyone was raving about how awesome the rec center was and I can see why, they've got everything from a curling rink to a pool and everything in between!

I capped off my day with a short interview with Shawn from the Slave River Journal and had a really good chat with Craig of CAB Construction, another of Fort Smith's largest employers.

Like any outdoor work in the north, it poses a unique set of challenges when the seasons change, of course there are compensation and safety considerations for working through the winter months, but that doesn't stop construction. There is endless opportunity in the construction field, Craig is always looking for good tradespeople looking to live in a close friendly community like Fort Smith. All you need is the right work ethic and dedication to your craft, Craig's advice is to think long term, build up your experience and (your savings!) Nothing happens over night, but for a young person, the opportunities to gain a wide variety of experience is worth it.

Before I went over to Mike's place for dinner (and locked my keys in the car) I stopped by Sonny's place to pick up the carving I had bought. It's the Raven's head on the lower left

It was another long busy day in Fort Smith, I have to say how wonderfully surprised I was with the town. For it's size it really has everything you could possibly need.

Fort Smith Day 1

2010-11-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

I got in to Fort Smith late Tuesday night after a long drive from Yellowknife. I checked in with my local guide Mike and got settled in at my lodgings for the evening.

First thing Wednesday morning, I visited the Parks Canada office to meet up with my guides Mike and Tim, I knew as soon as the costumes came out I was in for a good time! Mike and Tim actually grew up together back on the east coast and ended up both moving to Fort Smith later in life. We talked a lot about what Fort Smith had to offer as a close knit community, a safe place to raise and family, a chance to reinvent your career and find very unexpected opportunities. They gave me the grand tour around the visitors center and the office, we had a good chat about what Parks Canada is up to these days and a good idea of what makes the parks in the NWT so unique;

Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada where everything is done on a grand scale. As the largest park in Canada's system of National Parks and the 2nd largest protected area in the world, at 44, 807 square kilometres, it likes to think big. Home to the largest land mammal native to North America - a herd of 5000 Wood Bison, birthplace to North America's largest bird - the Whooping Crane, this vast park contains one of the largest inland fresh water delta ecosystems in the word - the Peace Athabasca Delta and now it boasts the largest beaver dam in the world.

Is it any wonder that this spectacular park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its vastness and wilderness?

I also got to see a sneak preview of some footage of a wolf pack taking down a Bison, shot for the upcoming BBC Frozen Planet series, it was very cool! I can't wait to check the series out (I started following the director on twitter)

I swung by the highschool to chat with Al the Principal, we talked about small town life and working in the education field. His advice to any educators thinking of coming north was to first experience working and living in a small community, the pace is slower and it will give you a very clear idea of where your students are coming from.

For lunch I was invited to join Jane the Mayor and James the Campus Director of Aurora College and Sidney the Senior Admin Officer. We talked about the diverse community of people living in Fort Smith, drawing from different facets of the area like the Parks, the College and Northwestern Air, there are people from all over the world living in Fort Smith. Surrounded by vast expanses of wilderness, people here are more interested in the natural outdoors experience, trading less commuting and more adventure over urban amenities like drive-thru coffee and strip-malls.

Speaking of coffee, I stopped in to North of 60 Books to chat with Chris and Hilary. Chris is a local artist, making jewelery and other arts and crafts. Hilary is a recent mum who runs the bookstore with her husband and teaches Business Admin at the college.

The best part of Fort Smith is the sense of the community that exists here, the pace is less hectic, there's no rush when errands only take a few hours instead of an entire day to accomplish. Life is slower, but fuller, the time spent commuting is spent with your family instead, the amount of services and opportunities that exist compared to towns of comparable size is incredible.

At the Health Center I talked to a couple Administration and Staff about the unique challenges of working in the Northern healthcare system. A small system for a large geographic area and amalgamated systems can be interesting. But as Joanne put it, you can actually make a huge difference here and your effort is not overlooked. In the city you're a number, here you're a person.

I paid a visit to world famous carver Sonny MacDonald;

"Sonny has carved for the Pope, the Queen of England, a number of past Prime Ministers of Canada... A visit with Sonny is to delve into the art of native storytelling, to learn about the wonders of the natural materials he works with, a chance to hear a few good jokes and an opportunity to view and purchase unique artworks found no where else."

I got to chat with Sonny for a little while about his work and his process; he prefers to use natural materials mostly horn, antler, wood and stone. Sonny finds most of the wood for his works on his daily walk by the riverside, It's the misshapen and unusual pieces of materials that give him an idea of what image or scene will be carved out.

A visit to Sonny's workshop is a real glimpse into a master craftsman and his art. The quality of both work and subjects are what make the experience of visiting Sonny's workshop such an enchanting experience.

Just before it got dark we did a quick hike down to the Rapids of the Drowned.

The biggest treat of the night was getting to hang out with local band State of the Art, if you love Metal and Hard Rock - these guys are the real deal! For the guys in State of the Art it's all about passion and honing their craft.

Coming from strong family musical backgrounds and emerging from the Winnipeg scene, the guys from State of the Art manage to balance work, family and life all while staying true to the music and the underground community. They've traveled around the North and across the country, "Their combination of original and cover material serves as a compelling showcase for the pure tightness and raw grit of the band. Known as a rugged, no nonsense four piece band, they subscribe to the theory that quality musicianship knows no boundaries in terms of labels or genres."

Driving from Yellowknife to Fort Smith

2010-11-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

Leaving Yellowknife around 9ish in the morning

Soon we enter into Bison country

soon I round the North Arm

Sunny weather, good tunes and the open road, what else could you ask for?

Around 1 I stopped in at Fort Providence for lunch at the Snowshoe Cafe

- Try the Buffalo Burger!

Time to hop on the Merv Hardie Ferry and cross the mighty Deh Cho

Just outside of Enterprise I saw an Eagle flying around and then land to hang out right beside a Raven

Of course no trip through the South Slave region would be complete without a stop in at Winnie's. I had bought some souvenirs there when I was in Hay River and had unknowingly left one sitting on the counter. So lucky for me, it was still there when I inquired about it :)

The arts and crafts shop at Winnie's is phenomenal, definitely stop in and have a look!

Now on to Fort Smith!

The sun started setting around 6ish and the roads got dark. I had to take it slow and cautiously, there were still Bison on the road and I didn't get in to Smith until around 8 or 9ish

Time to hit the road!

2010-11-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

It's Monday and a new month, time to get my gear packed and hit the road heading south to good ole' Fort Smith. I've got a lot of activities planned and a bunch of people to meet, I can't wait :)

All the guys in my office decided to participate in Movember to raise money and awareness for men's health, specifically combating prostate cancer.

"The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for prostate cancer. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days."

I haven't really decided what mustache style to grow yet, so give me some suggestions :)

Busy week!

2010-10-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

Wellp it was a busy week for me here in Yellowknife, I managed to catch up on a lot of work and got my plans ready for next week. Of course this weekend is Halloween and I haven't even got my costume together yet, (yikes! cutting it close again) I want to give a shoutout to my friend Kyle who runs YKOnline, he's posted a great set of trick-or-treating safety tips

I came across this interesting story of a ghost ship that wandered the arctic for years after it was abandoned, I haven't heard of many ghost stories up here, I wonder what places are haunted in the NWT?

Next week I'm off to Fort Smith for a few days, I'm really excited to drive down and take pictures along the highway, I'll be keeping an eye on the Department of Transportation road conditions next week while i'm travelling. More importantly I'll be getting together my road tunes this weekend for the long drive there and back! There are a lot of great bands and musicians here in the Northwest Territories and what better way to get to know the sounds of the north by jamming with them in the car on a long road trip? :D

Anyway I hope you all have a good weekend and a safe & spooky Halloween!

Drums

2010-10-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

Last night I got an invite to join the ladies at The Sacred Circle Project for their Drum making workshop. What a great experience! The Sacred Circle Project is a Non-Profit Society, funded by The National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) and Child and Family Services, YKHSS their objective is to promote healing and health in heart, mind, body and spirit through the use of traditional Aboriginal healing practices, teachings and ceremonies.

It was a really fun evening of learning how drums are made, we had all the materials there and ready, we just had to cut out our own drum heads from the deer hide as well as long thing strips of hide to bind it all together. It took about 3 hours to do from start to finish, I figured at that rate I could make a drum a day! hahaha

This is a drum one of the ladies was working on, the binding in the back is really a work of art

All our finished drums in a row, mine's in the middle

My drum!
Has to settle for the next couple weeks, I can't wait to play it :D

The Sacred Circle Project is always doing these sort of workshops if you are interested in making your own drum or rattle you should sign up for one of their workshops! It was a great experience and I really came away with a better understanding of the connection a drummer has to their drum. If you are interested in learning more about the drum in aboriginal culture here in the north, there is a good video done by my friend Pablo

The Drum on Vimeo.

NWT Student Ambassador Program

2010-10-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

I got this in my inbox today and thought I'd pass it along

As of today, posters and advertisements are being placed throughout universities, colleges and trade schools across the country. These posters highlight the Northwest Territories as a place to start a meaningful and adventurous career.We would like to enlist the assistance and support of NWT students in the Come Make Your Mark campaign

As a Student Ambassador for the Territory that you call home, you'll have an important part in promoting the NWT to your classmates and peers: telling them about the exciting life that is waiting for them in the Northwest Territories after graduation.

You are fortunate enough to come from a place that is vibrant and also abundant in natural beauty. Be proud and help us promote the NWT by:

•    Following “Mark” on his blog “Mark My Words”
•    Become a fan of our Facebook page
•    Follow Mark on Twitter
•    Check out Marks Youtube page
•    Tweet and Facebook your northern pride!
•    Tell us your own story at http://www.comemakeyourmark.ca/en/Stories.aspx

Plus, you'll receive a free gift and a chance to win a cool campaign hoodie!

To register contact Alexandrea_malakoe@gov.nt.ca with a brief description of your year, program, post-secondary institution and community of origin.

Make your mark as an NWT Student Ambassador!

Labour in the Northwest Territories

2010-10-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of talk lately in the NWT about labour, I was listening to CJCD the other day and they were talking about the aging workforce within the government:

The Minister of Human Resources, Bob McLeod, said it's clear they need to come up with a plan to deal with the aging workforce.

"Our public service is aging," said McLeod. "The average age is 44 years old, and 63 per cent of our employees are over 44 years old."

According to the NWT Bureau of Statistics, the median age of residents in the territory is 31.5 years old, as opposed to 26.9 years in 1991.

I also saw this news brief in Monday's paper that talks about the employment rate being higher than the national average here, but the workforce is declining:

The NWT's employment rate remains higher than the national average, but the territory's labour force continues to shrink, according to a recent labour force survey published earlier this month by the NWT Bureau of Statistics. The employment rate was 68.9 per cent in September, above the national rate of 62 per cent. NWT's employment rate remained the same from August to Sept. 2010, although it declined slightly for aboriginal residents and Yellowknife residents. But in that month, 300 people left the labour force. The study notes there are currently 23,500 people in the territory's labour force, which it says has been steadily declining since spring 2010.
– Katie May, NNSL

It's interesting to consider the career possibilities that are available to young workers here, many of the folks I've been talking to in my travels have consistently said that the opportunity for advancement and diverse job experience here you just wouldn't find anywhere else.

My Trip to Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park

2010-10-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

When I was in Hay River, I was lucky enough to take the afternoon off and go see the falls, the weather was great and the scenery was amazing!

Hay River Wrap-up and Back to Yellowknife

2010-10-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

I have to give a big thank you to the folks at the Ptarmigan Inn this morning! I overslept my alarm and was running late for my flight back to Yellowknife, when a very generous lady offered me a ride in her truck to the Buffalo Airways hanger. We just barely made it in time, but I gave her a big hug and jumped on the plane back to Yellowknife with all my gear (good thing I had packed all my stuff the night before!)

Overall I really enjoyed my trip to Hay River, I wish I had more time to spend taking photos or visiting with more people in the community, but alas there never seems to be enough time in the day.

I want to thank everyone I met in Hay River who shared their stories with me, everyone was very open and passionate about why they loved living there, if you love the outdoors and you're into playing sports and being involved in the community than Hay River is definitely the kind of place for you :)

Hay River - Day 2

2010-10-21T23:59:00.000-07:00

Another hectic day here in Hay River, I got a morning tour around the Old Town and West Channel from my Hay River Auntie Tracy.

After my tour I stopped in to Town Hall to meet with Mike and Randy, they look after the Public Works and Development in Hay River

Randy is a longtime resident of Hay River, today he was overseeing a childhood dream of his, demolishing the school he went to as a kid! Mike moved up to Hay River a few years ago fresh out of school, we talked a lot about the kinds of career opportunities that exist in the north, how you're able to get a wide variety of work experience as well as building close relationships with the people you work with. In the north relationships are key, the people factor has to be balanced with the tech factor because your work life and your social life are often one in the same.

After lunch with the boys, I dropped in to chat with Mark the General Manager at Norland Agencies. Mark grew up in an RCMP family traveling around Canada and settling in Hay River. We talked a lot about why Hay River is such a good environment to raise a family and how easy it is to get involved in the community.

What resonated with me was when Mark talked about how much more relaxed life is in a small town like Hay River, time is easy and flexible when you don't have to face a few hours commute every day. There's a lot less planning and logistics to do simple family activities when everything is right at your doorstep.

In the afternoon I visited the Northwest Territories Power Corporation offices to chat with a bunch of young folks who had come to work in Hay River or come back to Hay River after they finished school.

One thing that was common throughout everyone I talked to was how much more experience they got working in the north compared to classmates and colleagues down south and how much they like the compensation for the work they do. It was uncanny how everyone told me how much more variety they have in their day to day work and how easy it is to get out after work and have some fun playing sports or enjoying the outdoors just minutes from the office.

After all those interviews and running around, I was beat, I had some supper and then hit the library to do some updates before packing my stuff up and heading off to bed.

ps. I love the purple school!

Hay River - Day 1

2010-10-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

What a busy day! Last night I took in a meeting on promoting tourism to Hay River, this morning I met with Arlene the HR Manager of Kingland Group of companies, one of Hay River's largest employers. We talked a lot about community involvement and investment and the kinds of opportunities that exist in the north. There is a strong emphasis on keeping long-term employment and reinvesting in Hay River, but also the spirit of volunteerism that helps to bind a community together.

After I met Sebastien, a recent CGA grad working at Kingland who moved with his family to Hay River from Moncton, he gave me the grand tour of the Kingland shops. We talked a lot about finding career opportunities in the North, working to live not living to work.

After lunch I sat down to chat with Kandis, owner Hay River Dispoals Ltd., Jameson Holdings and Jameson's True Value Hardware. She really emphasized that living in the North was a lifestyle choice, it helps if you love the outdoors and being involved in the community.

My guide Tracy graciously lent me her truck so that I could tour out to see the Twin Falls, 1/2 hour outside of Hay River. I hiked around the Twin Falls Territorial Park to go see Alexandra and Louise falls, simply amazing!

After all that running around and hiking i'm beat, but looking forward to learning more about Hay River tomorrow.

Hay River ahoy!

2010-10-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

So after some last minute packing and running around, I jumped on the the Buffalo Airways flight down to Hay River this afternoon. The flight to Hay River was great, I can't wait to start exploring the town!

Tomorrow I'll be touring around visiting businesses, chatting with folks and experiencing what Hay River is like and checking out some of the local sights.

That's all for now, g'night

Social (Media) Travel

2010-10-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

I caught word that a pair of social media travelers Alex and Luke on on their way to the Northwest Territories after touring extensively through the United States. This got me thinking to my own trips, I wonder which community in the Northwest Territories I would get voted to visit if I could base my trips on popular vote?

While I'm traveling, I'll be taking pictures, videos, doing job shadowing and interviews with all sorts of people here in the Northwest Territories. Part of why I am so excited is that I get to see slices of life that not everyone gets to see!

While thinking about road trips and moving trips I've taken, I came across a great travelogue on the Life in the Knife blog about their move to the Northwest Territories. Moving up North poses its own unique set of challenges, if you are thinking of moving to the Northwest Territories, sign up for a NWT Welcome Kit which has special offers and discounts from local businesses like Matco, Northern News Services, Northern Property Real Estate Investment Trust, Arctic Co-operatives, Northwestel and Top of the World Travel.

2 weeks down, time to hit the road!

2010-10-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

Yellowknife had its first big snow storm of the season yesterday and it looks like it’s here to stay. For many people the winter weather is an immediate turn off, fair enough some folks just don’t like the cold.

I don’t mind it so much, for me it’s harder to cool off in the hot/humid weather than it is to dress warmly in the cool weather. I’m still getting the hang of the whole ‘dress in layers’ approach to winter, my apartment and my office keep pretty warm, but trekking around outdoors to do errands or visit friends can be a little chilly. I came across this guide put out by the NWT Sport and Recreation Council on layering, which has some pretty good tips on keeping warm while being active during the winter:

Highly Active (x-country skiing, snowshoeing, running etc.):

Dress in layers so that you can adjust your body temperature easily.
Don't wear the death fabric! Jeans and cotton become wet with your sweat and will chill you quickly.
There are lots of options for your base layer (right next to your skin):
Merino wool is light, warm, not scratchy, and won't make you stinky.
Silk underwear is another good natural option.
There are also man-made fabrics that are designed to wick sweat and keep you dry.

Your next layer will depend on the temperature and how active you are:

Try adding another layer of light wool (such as merino) or fleece.
Vests will give your core some added protection.
Your outer layer should be windproof but still breathable.
A soft shell jacket might be a good choice. Gortex and nylon are generally not, as they tend to trap your sweat and turn it to frost.
Wind pants (over base and/or mid-layers) will protect your legs but still allow you to move.
A good rule of thumb: Be Bold. Start Cold. (But not too cold). As you start to move, your body will heat up.
Try to dress so that you are warm without overheating. Excessive sweating can lead to dangerous chilling.
Experiment to see what works at various temperatures and don't be afraid to add or lose layers as you need to.

Your Feet:
Socks:

Wool, wool, wool and more wool. Wool socks will keep your feet the warmest.
Do NOT wear cotton socks.
Wearing two pairs of socks may protect you against blisters.

Boots/Shoes:

What you wear will depend on what you're doing - ski boots, hikers, running shoes: make the choice that suits your activity.
Pay attention to your toes. Don't let them get too cold or you risk losing some of them to frostbite.

Your Head and Neck:

A neck warmer (such as a fleece tube) or a scarf will stop the wind from leaking down your back and can be used as a face mask to protect your cheeks and nose.
If your head is uncovered you will not stay warm. Wear your toque! It will also protect your ears.
If your activity requires a helmet…wear it! There are helmets available that are fleece lined and will keep you both warm and safe. Choose the one most appropriate to what you are doing.

Hands:

Mittens will allow your fingers to touch, providing skin to skin warmth.
Gloves give you more dexterity.
There are mittens available with glove liners to get the best of both worlds.
Depending on what you are doing, hand warmers may be necessary to keep your fingers safe and comfortable.

Safety Layers:

Store a down jacket at the very top of your pack. If you need to stop, even for a quick drink of water, pull it out and put it on.
If you're dressed to move you will get very cold very quickly when you stop and once you're cold it's hard to get warmed back up.
When you're ready to move again, quickly shed the jacket, put it back in your pack and get moving right away.
Pack extra mittens and socks so that you can swap them out if you sweat through your first pair.
Bring an extra mid-layer along in your pack as well. If you get out there and find you've misjudged the temperature it can make the difference between an enjoyable experience and one that puts you at risk.

A few tips of my own:

Boots - Make sure your boots have good traction!
It sucks slipping and falling on the ice
Ears - Make sure your toque covers your ears,
you'll appreciate it when it's windy
Longjohns - Are your friend.

Next week I’ll flying down to Hay River on Buffalo Airways for a few days, I can’t wait! I have a few businesses lined up for a visit, but i'm still looking for other things going on in town. If you know of anything let me know!

Good Blog Reads

2010-10-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

When I first had the notion I was moving to Yellowknife, I hopped on the ole' interweb and started checking out what others were saying about their experiences living up here. Thankfully the good folks over at www.nwtblogs.com have an excellent directory of blogs based in or about the Northwest Territories.

If you're at all curious at what the real deal is up here, browse through some of these blogs. I have to say overall I've been quite impressed by the quality of writing, photography and information presented by everyone. I haven't read through all of them, but the ones I have read through were captivating and informative.

What to read?

2010-10-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

Usually when I am traveling I like to read to pass the time and I know I’ll be looking at the serious travel time in the near future, so today I thought I'd write a little about books.

Like many Canadians I read Farley Mowat in school, it was probably my first literary introduction to the North. For me the north was represented by images of Jack London, North of 60 and a grade school project about tundra.

About a year or so ago while I was working and travelling, my friend Linda recommended Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay. I liked the book, to me Yellowknife seemed like a far-flung adventure, a place to drop out of the rat-race and experience a unique kind of life. When I arrived to Yellowknife I tore through a battered copy of ‘Yellowknife’ by Ray Price from the Public Library. This book is a great indepth exploration of the history of Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories, how it came to be and some of the more colourful characters that live here.

Since I've had some fairly mixed reactions from Northerners who have read Late Nights on Air, I decided to do some browsing around and ask people which books I should pick up next. I found a post by author Steve Zipp who also wrote a book about Yellowknife which sounds amusing, I also came across The Yellowknife Book Cellar, which has a great list of books about the North.

Which books would you recommend?

Another exciting day here in Yellowknife

2010-10-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

We had a little snowfall this afternoon!

The long weekend was nice, I had lots to eat and made sure to get some rest in before I start my travel adventures. Rumor is I might be heading to Hay River soon. I haven't been there yet, so it should be an interesting opportunity to see one of the larger towns of the NWT.

In August we had a couple move up from Calendar, Ontario as a result of the Come Make Your Mark booth at the North Bay Home show. You can read her story and see why she 'kind of like(s) being the crazy relatives and friends who packed up on a whim and moved to Yellowknife. It makes for a great story.'

I thought I was crazy when I moved here on a whim.. If I am, then I'm in good company ;)

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-10-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a safe and happy Thanksgiving Weekend. I'll be missing all my friends and family back home, but thankfully have lots of new friends here who have made me feel at home :)

I'm hoping that one of my friends will win the Come Make Your Mark with Mark contest, it'd be really cool to have someone I know come up for a visit!

Whoever ends up winning will get a chance to come up and hang out with me here in Yellowknife and join me on one of my adventures! Good luck to everyone, hope to see you soon ;)

TGIF!

2010-10-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

Week 1 was a lot of stress and excitement all mushed together. It's been pretty interesting so far getting all the web accounts set-up and making sure everything was ready for the official launch on Wednesday. Since then I’ve been getting some good feedback from people who like the campaign and the video and from businesses who are interested in letting me job shadow with them. I got some exciting prospects lined up, one with a helicopter company and job shadowing an aircraft maintenance engineer (I’m pretty sure I’m going to get a sight seeing helicopter ride out of this one!)

This week I got invited to attend Prospects North, so I stopped in to check out the Yellowknives Dene First Nations Drummers and Chief Jimmy Bruneau Drummers perform some drum dances and do a traditional handgames demo. Check out the video I took at the event

I haven't quite figured out how the hand games work, but I found this cool website that gives a good explanation. Hopefully I'll get a chance to hang out with these guys and try it out for myself!

Other than Prospects North, I've been busy this week helping my friends get ready for a dance party we're throwing this Saturday at the Elks. We'll be raising money for the Centre for Northern Families and dancing to some wompy music all night long!

Today we stopped in at the Shopper's to say hi to Alex Debogorski who was signing copies of his book King of the Road. It was a really fun experience to meet Alex, he's very jovial and very friendly. I got a signed copy of the book, which will give me something to read while I'm traveling around haha

Next week I'll find out which community i'll be visiting first (my bet is on Behchoko) and we'll be announcing the details for the 'Come Make Your Mark with Mark NWT Contest' where some lucky person will win a free trip to Yellowknife to hang out with me! (Don't worry they're putting you up in a hotel room so you won't have to crash on my couch)

Have a good weekend, take it easy!

Why I came to the NWT

2010-10-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

After I finished university, I was still living in Toronto and looking for a job in my field. In the meantime I was doing an unpaid internship and working a few part-time jobs to pay the bills. After about a year of looking, I hadn’t gotten any closer to starting my career, so I decided to start exploring my options.

After some research and contemplation I took a chance and applied for some jobs in the Northwest Territories. I knew there was a demand for skilled workers and luckily for me I managed to land a job within a week! Within a month I had packed up my life and hopped on a plane to Yellowknife in the middle of February. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I had never been this far north in my life. The only thing I knew about Yellowknife was what I learned from TV and the Internet.

Yellowknife is really a place where you can be as busy or as bored as you want to be. I would describe it as a really small ‘big city’. The lifestyle here is a little more laid back and the people very social and welcoming. There are people from all over Canada and the world living here and you’ll find most of the same amenities you would in a much larger city.

What I love most about living here is the vastness of nature that surrounds you – the fresh air and clear blue skies. Since moving here I’ve joined the Board of Directors for the Western Arctic Moving Pictures Society (WAMP) and started learning the bagpipes with the Northwest Territorial Pipe Band. I’ve participated in local artist competitions and done a little salvaging at the famous Yellowknife dump! I’ve spent a lot more time outdoors since arriving here: enjoying the Snow King’s castle this spring, going out for hikes and visiting some of the communities whenever the opportunity arises.

I consider myself very fortunate to have the kinds of opportunities I've had in work and travel. I like living in a close-knit community like Yellowknife. I would recommend to anyone who is curious about the Northwest Territories to take a chance and come. Before I moved here I asked myself "What do you have to lose?" Little did I know it's what I've gained that makes this where I want to be.

And now for a taste of things to come

2010-10-06T04:56:00.000-07:00

So it's my first day as ‘Mark NWT’, thanks for checking out the site!
My real name is Brandon – but you can call me Mark, because I’m making my mark in the Northwest Territories.

If you don't already know, Come Make Your Mark is a campaign for the Government of the Northwest Territories – Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. The website launched in April and hosts an amazing amount of information about the Northwest Territories – community information, stories of real life people making their mark, job opportunities and much more. ‘Follow Mark’ is new and involves some social mediums to provide information to Canadians about job & lifestyle opportunities in the NWT.

If you are interested in finding out a little more about me personally, you can read my story here

Over the course of the next few months I'm going to be travelling around the Northwest Territories documenting my adventure and giving young folks like myself an idea of what it's really like to work and live up here. Right now I have no idea of where I'll be going or what I'll be doing, but I’ll be on a plane soon and job shadowing some interesting people along the way. I've set-up accounts on Facebook Twitter and Bebo to connect and keep in touch with people during my adventures. If you have any questions feel free to give
me a shout!