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About 200 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members will take part in Operation NUNALIVUT 2017. The annual surveillance and control operation in the High Arctic takes place this year in Resolute Bay and Hall Beach, Nunavut, from Feb. 23 to March 10, 2017.
Operation NUNALIVUT began in 2007 to provide the CAF an opportunity to operate in the northernmost regions of Canada and to enhance the CAF’s capability to respond to a variety of situations in northern Canada.
“Operation NUNALIVUT 2017 will be a challenging deployment into the harsh climate of the High Arctic by both regular and reserve members of the Canadian Armed Forces during the coldest period of the year,” said BGen Mike Nixon, Commander, Joint Task Force (North). “Aside from exercising the capacity to deploy to and operate tactically in the High Arctic, Operation NUNALIVUT will provide the opportunity to test equipment and training methods while demonstrating a Northern presence.”
Quick facts
Commanded by Joint Task Force (North), Task Force NUNALIVUT comprises personnel from the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force;
On the ground: Members from 12e Régiment blindé du Canada, as the Immediate Reaction Unit; a composite group of soldiers from 34 and 35 Canadian Brigade Group, as the Arctic Response Company Group; and the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group will conduct Arctic survival training and sovereignty patrols in Hall Beach;
In the water: Members from the Royal Canadian Navy’s Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic, with combat divers from across Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Dive Unit, will conduct ice diving operations in Resolute Bay;
In the air: The CC-177 Globemaster and CC-130J Hercules will transport people, supplies, and equipment to Hall Beach from Yellowknife and Quebec City. In addition, a CC-138 Twin Otter will deploy to Hall Beach to provide local air transport; and
During the operation, Task Force NUNALIVUT will work with other government departments and agencies, such as the RCMP, as well as local and territorial governments.
