Operation Nanook 2014, the premier annual Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operation held in Canada’s North, has now concluded, highlighting the CAF’s ability to exercise sovereignty and support the safety and security of Canadians in the North.
This year’s operation, held from August 20-29, involved more than 800 participants, including personnel from all branches of the CAF and 12 federal and territorial departments and agencies.
During the 10-day operation, participants from departments and agencies partnered to provide whole-of-government responses to safety, security and environmental incidents in our northern lands and waters. A Poseidon P-8 surveillance aircraft from the United States Navy and the Danish warship HDMS Triton also participated during the search and rescue portion of this year’s operation.
“The successful execution of Op Nanook14 has, once again, allowed the Canadian Armed Forces to demonstrate their capacity to work within a whole-of-government framework to respond to safety and security incidents in the North,” said Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson. “With the shifting global climate, Canadians can take pride in a strong military that is capable of defending our interests and exercising Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.”
The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) contribution to Op Nanook 2014 consisted of HMCS Shawinigan, Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) and various staff officers. HMCS Shawinigan sailed in the vicinity of Iqaluit and York Sound, as well as in the Davis Strait. It also embarked colleagues from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada to survey Arctic habitats.
Also from the RCN was a 17-member dive team comprised of clearance divers and port inspection divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), along with divers from various Naval Reserve units across the country. They played a pivotal role the operation’s mission, providing real-life support to other CAF assets, other government departments and the government of Nunavut.
Op Nanook, the most widely recognized of all the northern deployments, is directed by Canadian Joint Operations Command.
[mappress] Press Release, September 10, 2014; Image: Canadian Navy