Pursuing projects off the beaten path

Technical experts from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) visit some of the most remote corners of the country. PSPC regularly assists other federal departments and agencies with projects that take our people into the field. Sometimes, the field is the arctic waters of a Northern territory or a town at the edge of the continent.

Sounding the depths of Canada’s distant deep

In October 2021, Elizabeth Van Nuland went to Chesterfield Inlet, the oldest community in Nunavut, to join a team conducting a hydrographic survey of 3 navigation channels. Hydrographic surveys record water depths and underwater features that impact navigation. In this case, the data was needed by several groups within Fisheries and Oceans Canada, including the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Hydrographic Service.

The area hadn’t been surveyed for a while, says Van Nuland. “So we had to determine if there were changes and if it remained safe for use by large tankers going to a local mine. Also, survey methods have advanced, and we can provide much more comprehensive data nowadays.”

For Van Nuland, delivering the project meant travelling over 20 hours, on 3 separate flights. She then boarded the large vessel she would live on for a full month while completing the surveys from a smaller boat launched into the water each day. Before beginning their work, there was also special training to prepare the survey team for novel situations they might encounter. “For example, we had to attend a polar bear safety briefing, as we were planning to set up our GPS equipment on land.”

The team had plenty of adventures. It was -10 Celsius outside and positively freezing on the open boat used for the survey work. Some of the gear malfunctioned in the frigid climate, the days got short quickly, and everyone was working against the clock because the ice was set to arrive. “On top of that, the currents were so strong that we couldn’t get onshore safely, and we struggled daily against the tidal waters,” says Van Nuland. She even awoke one night to the sound of the anchors being brought in when they gave way due to the current, though the navigator on duty prevented her floating home from veering into dangerously shallow water.

“I’ve been doing this work for PSPC since 2017, and this was my most challenging project,” says Van Nuland. “But we got the job done, and I saw the Northern Lights for the first time, which was amazing.”

A far east trek to take stock of a site

Darren Sooley’s work gathering information about federal facilities takes him on interesting journeys, but the most distant site he has ever visited is Nain, Labrador. It’s the northernmost town in Labrador, and Sooley travelled there in August 2022 to inspect an office space for Government of Canada employees.

After flying into Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Sooley found himself in a tiny cargo plane for the next leg of his trip. Aside from the crates of bananas being transported to the coastal enclave, there was just one other passenger along for the bumpy ride. His arrival in Nain was also memorable. When he stepped onto the sand runway, he was confronted by the challenge of getting to his destination despite limited cellular phone coverage to contact his ride and no taxis in sight. Ultimately, he relied on the friendly locals to get around.

By taking the trip in the summer, Sooley avoided the difficulties of travelling and inspecting outdoor areas of the office site, such as the parking lot and building entrances, in inclement weather. He was, however, swarmed by black flies. “You can’t win in these parts,” he laughs. “You either get ice or insects.”

None of these factors prevented Sooley from completing the work he had come to do. “I was there for 3 reasons. One was to establish how much space we have,” he explains. “Even though we received a floor plan from the landlord, we always take our own measurements, because there can be discrepancies in determining the exact amount of usable space provided.”

Sooley also completed an accessibility audit to ensure the space meets the Treasury Board of Canada’s Standard on Barrier-Free Access to Real Property (now called the Directive on the Management of Real Property). His third task was to capture footage of the facility with a 3D camera for the fire inspection specialist who couldn’t come out to Nain. “With this technology, it’s almost as if he’s there in the building with me. It even allows for important measurements, such as confirming the height of the fire alarm pull station.”

Sooley was pleased to visit the region as part of his job. “It’s really beautiful, and the people are great.”

To read more articles about PSPC people, programs and projects, visit Our stories.

You can also meet one of our hydrographic surveyors in this video.