Canadian Armed Forces Successfully Concludes Operation NUNALIVUT 2017
News Release
March 10, 2017 – Yellowknife, N.W.T. – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) successfully concluded Operation NUNALIVUT 2017 on March 10, 2017 after two weeks of surveillance and control operations near Hall Beach and Resolute Bay, Nunavut.
Over 200 CAF members, including 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, participated in the operation with other government departments and agencies, focusing on long-range patrols, diving operations, and survival training in the High Arctic. Notably, while conducting training a CC-138 Twin Otter crew rescued two hunters who were stranded near Hall Beach. This initiated an actual ground search and rescue effort by RCMP and local groups, supported by 440 Transport Squadron crew members, for a third missing hunter. These combined efforts resulted in the successful rescue of all three hunters, demonstrating the importance of the type of training conducted during Operation NUNALIVUT.
Operation NUNALIVUT demonstrates the CAF’s capability and preparedness to respond to a variety of situations in northern Canada and to operate in remote areas.
Quotes
“The unforgiving winter in the High Arctic was a challenge to all members who deployed on Operation NUNALIVUT 2017. I am extremely proud to see the exceptional skills, capabilities, and cooperation that each member demonstrated during the operation. This dynamic northern operation taught many of our soldiers how to survive in the harshest climate in Canada.”
— Brigadier-General Mike Nixon, Commander, Joint Task Force (North)
Quick Facts
-
Operation NUNALIVUT 2017 started on February 23 and ended on March 10, 2017.
-
Initiated in 2007, Operation NUNALIVUT is an annual operation in the High Arctic to provide an opportunity for the CAF to operate in northernmost regions of Canada, to demonstrate the ability to operate in the harsh winter environment in remote areas, and to enhance the CAF’s capability to respond to a variety of situations in northern Canada.
-
On the ground: The 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, 12e Régiment blindé du Canada, 5e Bataillon des services du Canada, and 34 and 35 Canadian Brigade Groups conducted Arctic survival training as well as surveillance and control operations in Canada’s North. Patrols of the Hall Beach and Igloolik areas included constructing improvised shelters and igloos, conducting austere firing ranges, establishing austere landing strips, and practicing Arctic survival techniques with the Canadian Rangers.
-
In the water: Divers from the Royal Canadian Navy’s Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic, along with CAF combat divers from across Canada and Royal Canadian Mounted Police divers, conducted ice diving operations in Resolute Bay. Dive efforts focused primarily on enhancing arctic diving capabilities, and strengthening our partnership through joint diving operations. Operation NUNALIVUT 2017 helped establish and refine procedures to enable better interoperability in future underwater endeavours.
-
In the air: The CC-177 Globemaster and CC-130J Hercules transported personnel, supplies, and equipment to Hall Beach from Yellowknife and Québec City. The CC177 also transported the Fleet Diving Unit from Halifax, N.S. to Resolute Bay, Nunavut. In addition, 440 (Transport) Squadron based in Yellowknife, NT provided tactical airlift and search and rescue support using CC-138 Twin Otter aircraft to members of Task Force NUNALIVUT.
Related Products
Associated Links
Contacts
Major Josée Bilodeau
JTFN Public Affairs
867-973-0700, ext. 6056
Email: Josee.bilodeau@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
Page details
- Date modified: