Life in Far Northern Canada

In My Humble Opinion
1

I know and have read a little about the Native towns and villages, but I’m curious about the really remote towns that cater to mines and to the mines that are their own de facto village.

I noticed while watching the “Ice Road Truckers” series about the truckers who drive and carry supplies to these remote places in the middle of winter (They can’t do this in the other seasons - the roads don’t go all the way and there is impassable water - hence the Ice Roads) that they only show the names of the towns or mines they are going to. There is no on-camera interaction with the workers, who, when seen, have their faces blurred. So are the names on buildings and logos on trucks.

I went looking for videos of what life is like up there, especially for the highly skilled workers needed - pilots, engineers, geologists, doctors, specialized mechanics, etc. What is life like? How often do they get to get away to a real town or city? What do they do for fun? Is money the only reason they are there?

All I found were company produced recruitment videos that make it look like a vacation spot. I thought I’d find more in print form, but it seems all the links go to DeBeers website or the Nunavut official website.

Anyone know the answers or have any links to unauthorized videos or stories? It seems curious that information is so tightly controlled.

2

You might want to read the Alaska forum over at citydata.com. A lot of “lower 48” people there ask about life in Barrow as well as living in the far north bush. There’s also a Nunavit/Yukon forum in the Canada section there.

3

I know a man who is a specialist mechanic for enormous equipment, mostly gas and Mining industry stuff. He works in a camp north of Fort McMurry. He works ten or twelve hour days, I can’t remember which. Ten days on then ten days off. No variance. Ever.

It pays him sufficiently that he flies back and forth from Ontario, where he lives and has a family. Where he is, it’s less than an actual town. Likely the size of a small town but no permanent structures, or very few anyway. There is nothing to do but what the company provides. But they provide pretty good, satellite access for tv and devices, total catering services, including lunches to take to the site, etc.

It is however an entirely dry community. As in no booze. Nor can you bring any in! He doesn’t seem to mind the lifestyle but admits, it’s not for everyone!

Not sure what you could look up for video footage of such places. I expect they don’t much show them on tv etc, because they would most certainly not be much to look at, I expect.

4

Paging Nunavut Boy.