I am re-posting a blog story my step-dad wrote back in October 2013 on his own travel blog. He started blogging about his visits up north, while visiting my mom, who, for years, was an active Travel Nurse in northern Canadian communities. We miss him very much and I am glad I have his travel stories to read & share 🙂 Happy birthday, Jamie.
Life On The Arctic Circle
by jamiehurlow
Well, after 3 weeks on the Arctic Circle (Pangnirtung, Nunavut), I would like to share some casual observations with you.
First, on the day of the Fall Equinox, the sun rose at approx. 6:30 am and set at approx. 6:30 pm…not unlike down South in cities such as Ottawa or Toronto.
Interesting, eh!
Especially, when you compare that with the “Polar Night” of December 21st when the sun never rises above the horizon for 24 hours of the day !!!
Life here at 66 degrees North latitude is quite comfortable with the amenities of satellite TV, sat. radio, cell phone service, and the modern townhouse where we live with spectacular views of the fjord and mountains. 
But especially interesting is to observe the juxtaposition of the traditional with the modern; e.g. Inuit teenagers use their cellphones as much as kids down South; their parents….not so much.
Although the Inuit spend as much of their time as possible “on the land” fishing, hunting, and berry-picking, “the old traditions”; it is with modern modes of transportation such as ATV’s in the summer months, snowmobiles in the winter and pick-up trucks all year, that they get around.
Although we are remote, there are at least 2 flights per day here offloading passengers and cargo.
For travellers, there is a 25-room hotel, “The Auyuittuq Lodge” run by Louis, a colourful chap from Quebec province, who doubles as master chef.
Cargo, however, is delivered mostly by barges called “Sealifts” during the ice-free summer months of August & September. Most of these Sealifts originate in Quebec City or Montreal and deliver all kinds of goods from trucks and construction materials to cans of beans.
Although Elise has her work, my main weekly distractions, now that language lessons have ended, are trips to the ” Uqqurmiut” Centre for the Arts & Crafts and the “Northern Store” our equivalent to the IGA or Loblaws.
At the Arts & Crafts Centre:http://www.uqqurmiut.com
I bought a ” Pang ” hat with ear-flaps and a ” Pang ” scarf. The material is hand-crotcheted with 100% Canadian worsted wool and are made locally.
The “Centre” also features tapestries, print making, and native sculptures made of whale bone, soapstone, ivory and caribou antler.
The Northern Store, for groceries, is quite expensive compared to the South, e.g. a 3-bagger of milk is $15.00 up here; $4.50 in Ottawa…please see pics…
Lo and behold there is a combination KFC/Pizza Hut restaurant at the front of the store…go figure!
Finally, we are hosting a dinner party at our place Sunday evening with some of Elise’s colleagues from work, party-on !….altho Pang is dry (no alcohol permitted)…life goes on….
See you soon!
Jamie
