Operation Nanook in Nunavut keeps emergency crews busy

The Canadian military along with various agencies and government departments have been dealing with a grounded cruise ship and other mock emergencies on York Sound, about 175km south of Iqaluit on Frobisher Bay.

Earlier this week participants pretended there was a chemical leak on a cruise ship. On Wednesday they practised dealing with ascenario where a cruise shipran aground.

The intent is for the situation to play out like it would in real life. Emergency responders and others are deployed within hours.

Search and Rescue technicians like Conrad Cowan are the first on the ground with their equipment. It's all contained in a few small air-dropped crates.

"Within those boxes there's tents, rations, stoves, sleeping bags, all the equipment we need to protect, house and treat the patients," Cowan said.

MajorMike Mallette with the Immediate Response Unit said dealing with an emergency in the Arctic presents many challenges.

"In the event of a major disaster where we're in a remote location and we're talking about potentially hundreds of people stranded out here, it's going to take a little more time to get those folks out of the incident site, and that's where we would come in," Mallette said.

Calmconditions on York Sound during Wednesday's exercise can mask the harsh geography. The Canadian Rangers are there to help the participants with the lay of the land.

Master CorporalHezakiah Oshutapik with the Canadian Rangers hasalso been assigned to protect the participants from polar bears.

"We are the eyes and ears of the north, so we are responsible for safekeeping the environment and wildlife," Oshutapik said.

Operation Nanook officially concludes Sept. 19, but most of the 800 people involved including 650military personnel and 150 government and emergency workers return home this weekend.