Operation Nanook (2008)

For other titles see Opeation Nanook

File:HMCS Toronto, CCGS Pierre Radisson, and bergy bit, in Frobisher Bay during Operation Nanook 2008.jpg

HMCS Toronto, CCGS Pierre Radisson, and bergy bit, in Frobisher Bay during Operation Nanook 2008.

Operation Nanook 2008 was a joint exercise of Canada's Maritime Command and the Canadian Coast Guard, held in August 2008. Canada conducted similar joint exercises, also named "Operation Nanook", in 2007 and 2009.

The exercise was held from August 11 to August 25, 2008. Two Canadian navy ships and two airforce planes, a CC-138 Twin Otter and a CP-140 Aurora, took part in the exercises in the Canada's Arctic. The frigate HMCS Toronto, the minesweeper HMCS Shawinigan and the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGC Pierre Radisson travelled along the Hudson Strait. The Operation extended to Davis Strait, and Frobisher Bay during the annual Operation. There have been 18 such humanitarian operations since 2002. As more Arctic ice melts, the ships sail through uncharted waters. Emergency response times were tested for such potential disasters as oil spills, or rescue operations such as responding to cruise ship emergencies.

General Walter J. Natynczyk, Canada's chief of Defence staff, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Defence Minister as well as Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Steven Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia and Parliamentary Secretary for Health, flew to Iqaluit, Nunavut to officially launch the exercise on August 19, 2008 and observe the process.

External links

• Ambulances, helicopters buzz around Iqaluit as Operation NANOOK wraps up, CBC News, August 25, 2008-08-25.

• Andrew Mayeda. Canadian Forces launch operation NANOOK 2008, National Defence and the Canadian Forces, 2008-08-19.

• Media Advisory: Canadian Forces Launch Operation NANOOK 2008, MSNBC Wire Services - msnbc.com, 2008-08-19.

• Fletcher Attends Launch Of Operation NANOOK 2008, Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia, 2008-08-19.

• Calendar of Events - Veterans Affairs Canada, The Canadian Press, 2008-08-19.

• Bob Weber. Military, civilian agencies practise for maritime disasters in Arctic manoeuvres, The Canadian Press, 2008-08-17.

• Military, civilian groups conduct Arctic exercises, The Canadian Press, 2008-08-16.

• NationTalk - Canadian Forces and Partners operate in the Eastern Arctic - General - Native Newswire, Media Advisory NationTalk, 2008-08-06.

• NANOOK of the North, The Canadian Press, 2008-07-24.