Operation Nanook hits Labrador: An inside look as soldiers train for the north
Jacob Barker | CBC News | Posted: August 23, 2017 9:30 PM | Last Updated: August 23, 2017
It's the 1st time the country's biggest northern training mission is taking place in Labrador
Operation Nanook is meant to show that the Canadian Armed Forces can operate in the country's most northern regions and a look inside the temporary operations camp at Voisey's Bay, Labrador makes it clear that it's no easy task.
"A few hiccups but we'll be able to achieve the aims we wanted to achieve when we started the excercise," said operations officer Captain Bruno Cyr, who has to keep the troops supplied and moving around.
"That's part of the exercise — is learning how to move so we'll learn from there and next time it will be even better."
The operation saw its share of kinks. Weather delayed the arrival of most of the troops for a couple of days and a broken helicopter windshield meant training scenarios couldn't go ahead as planned.
That left soldiers with time on their hands but there was no shortage of activities.
"There's a lot of things. Mostly it comes to your imagination, whatever you can imagine or think up as a game. The sky is the limit, I guess," said Master Cpl. Marcel Richard while playing cards,
"Not everything's going to work out and you have to adapt. It's part of the training and you do the best you can with what you have."
Back on track
Though not every scenario went ahead as planned, eventually things did get on track.
"It's very important training," Master Cpl. Graham Townsend said as he learned how to put a stretcher in a helicopter.
"When one of our buddies is injured, when one of our friends is really, really hurt, we have to make sure we can control ourselves to properly get them to the level of care that they require."
Really proud
Though most of the troops taking part were from other parts of Atlantic Canada, there were some locals.
"It really helps the Labrador coast for them to show up here," Canadian Ranger Maria Emelia Merkuratsuk of Nain said.
"To see [Canadian Armed Forces members] in real life, to see them in person makes us really proud."
The Rangers, a reserve unit that opertes in remote areas, provides a lot of local knowledge for soldiers taking part in the training exercise.
Merkuratsuk became a ranger because her father was one. She embraces the role.
"I feel like keeping them safe [is] keeping us safe," she said.
Namesake vessel
The navy, along with a Labrador namesake also played a role in the operations. The HMCS Goose Bay was helping out moving troops and supplies around.
"Roads lesser travelled for the navy," Lt. Amanda Jayne said as the boat pulled into Voisey's Bay. "But very excited to be in this spot."