July 31, 2009

Ottawa to Kuujjuaq!

SOI Participant Coordinator Niki Trudeau checks off students boarding the First Air charter flight
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Click above to watch the SOI visit to the Canadian Museum of Nature

After our briefings last night - the team hit their beds fully exhausted from their day's of travel and activities in Ottawa. The wake-up call this morning was 5:00 a.m. with a 6:00 a.m breakfast - followed by a trip to the airport to board our First Air charter plane to Kuujjuaq! It was particularly exciting to drive right onto the tarmac with the buses and board the old fashioned way - via a staircase!

Students board the First Air charter flight to Kuujjuaq
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

After a three hour flight, the team arrived in Kuujjuaq where they were met at the airport by Jonathan Epoo, who is the President of the Saputiit Youth Association of Nunavik - and many other youth from Kuujjuaq, including some alumni from previous Arctic and Antarctic expeditions!

Students pose in front of a welcome banner made by youth in Kuujjuaq
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

After a truck whisked their luggage off to the ship - the team walked about twenty minutes into Kuujjuaq where they were greeted at the Town Hall by Mayor Larry Watt and many community members who treated us to a special welcome presentation - followed by a community barbecue! Thank you to the community for welcoming us with open arms! Also at the barbecue was Barrie Ford of the Nunavik Research Centre, and Michael Gordon, Vice President of Makivik Corporation and one of our key sponsors.

Fire weed outside Kuujjuaq
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

It was a wonderful morning and an exciting and delicious way to kick off this Arctic adventure!

Some curious huskies observe the students in Kuujjuaq
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice


Student Sarah Hennekens makes friends with a husky pup
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Following lunch - the team explored town and hiked on the nearby tundra. By 3:00 p.m. it was time to board the buses for the trip out to the marina where our expedition ship - The Polar Ambassador (Lyubov Orlova) - was at anchor and awaiting our arrival.


Students enjoy a Zodiac ride en route to board the expedition vessel
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

This would be the first of many, many Zodiac rides for our students (and some of our educators!)

Once on board, the team explored the ship, checked into their cabins and then met in the presentation hall for safety briefings, a mandatory lifeboat drill. Following the briefings, the team met on the deck to watch the crew raise the anchor and begin their journey northward.

Students check out the view from the deck of the Lyubov Orlova
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

A delicious dinner, some windy time on deck saying goodbye to Nunavik, a great presentation by John Crump (Arctic Imagination) - all wound out the evening - and the students collapsed into bed at 10:00 p.m. Too tired, regrettably to send journals last night - but we expect to see many in the coming days.

Tomorrow - we continue sailing north across the mighty Ungava Bay, the Hudson Strait and make our first landing sometime in the afternoon.

View from the stern deck of the Lyubov Orlova heading north into Ungava Bay
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Stay tuned for further updates!

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