Canadian Forces and Partners operate in the Eastern Arctic

Media Advisory
JTFN MA-08.010 – August 6, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE, N.T. – From August 19 to 26, the Canadian Forces (CF) will conduct Operation NANOOK 2008, a sovereignty operation in Canada’s Eastern Arctic. With participating personnel and resources from the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Nunavut Territorial and Federal government departments, this will be a joint and integrated operation to demonstrate sovereignty and interoperability in Canada’s North.The intent of this operation is to project sovereignty in the eastern Arctic, and to also provide a means to exercise the CF’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the North. Operation Nanook will include exercise scenarios that simulate maritime emergencies, such as an evacuation of a ship in distress and an oil spill. The CF will support the other government departments participating in the exercise with their response to these scenarios.

To facilitate media coverage of the operation and exercises, specific embed and embark opportunities have been planned. These opportunities will enable media to see first-hand each element of the CF (Navy, Army and Air Force), and the Canadian Coast Guard, in their own environment. Additional opportunities will be organized in Iqaluit to enable media to see the exercise scenarios as they unfold.

EMBEDDED LAND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

– There will be a total of four opportunities planned for media to embed with land forces, with a maximum of three personnel per location at any one time.
– These opportunities will see media embed with observation posts established on the southeastern shores of Baffin Island.
– These are short-duration (48-hour) embed opportunities which have been planned to enable participating media to see the shore patrols conducted by the Army, and to see the Canadian Rangers demonstrating their traditional skills.
– These opportunities will include transportation from Iqaluit to the respective observation post (and back), and rations and quarters while deployed.
– Participants will be responsible for bringing sufficient equipment to live in the field for the embed duration (a required kit list will be provided once confirmation is received).

EMBARKED SEA MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

– There will be two primary opportunities for media to embark with participating ships from the Canadian Navy and Coast Guard, with a maximum of nine personnel per ship at any one time.
– These are short-duration (48-hour) embark opportunities which have been planned to enable participating media to get out on the water to view maritime operations first-hand.
– These opportunities will include transportation from Iqaluit to the respective ships (and back), and rations and quarters while deployed.
– Participants will be responsible for bringing suitable clothing and personal gear for the embark duration (a required kit list will be provided once confirmation is received).

EMBARKED AIR MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

– Members of the media will be invited to embark with participating aircraft as opportunities permit (dependent on weather, and operational requirements).
– These will be short-duration opportunities to see air patrol and support operations first-hand.
– Air support operations such as these are critically important to sustaining missions on the ground.
– Opportunities are expected to include multiple platforms, and may provide opportunities to capture aerial footage of the units in the water, and on the ground.
– Spots for these flights will be dependent on operational commitments, and will be of limited availability.

COMMUNITY DAY

– A Community Day has been planned for August 19. This will give the CF, and participating governmental departments and agencies a chance to thank the residents of Iqaluit for their support before the operation gets underway.
– Planned activities are expected to include a daysail aboard the participating frigate in the morning (with concurrent ceremonies organized by Veterans Affairs Canada), and a BBQ held downtown in the afternoon with information kiosks, and activities for kids.

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For more information, or to sign-up for these media opportunities, please contact:

Lieut.(Navy) Jordan Holder, Public Affairs Officer JTFN HQ
Phone: (867) 873-0700, ext 6005, Fax: (867) 766-6803, Cell: (867) 445-4060,

Or:
Summer Halliday Public Affairs Advisor JTFN HQ,
Phone: (867) 873-0700, ext 6922, Fax: (867) 766-6803, Cell: (867) 765-8624.