The First Friday

On "approach" to YTR ... Rankin Inlet Airport

Well, its Friday and for me this work week is complete. Just like at the camera store, I've got my three days in...and the weekend awaits (unlike the camera store usually ...LOL). Today was my first full day at the Kivalliq Health Center here in Rankin Inlet. Yesterday, I had finally arrived from YWG (Winnipeg airport). My boss, Matt, had met me up at the airport, along with the driver from the centre, a young lad named Cyrus.

Flying into RANKIN INLET is the BAY known as HUDSON's

Cyrus helped me load my gear, from the luggage belt in the airport terminal waiting area, onto a cart (they are free here also). We manoeuvred past others, still waiting for theirs as friends and relatives are greeted or say good bye. My recently-arrived First Air BOEING 737-400 combi

was purging cargo and the newly-readied pallets were being loaded to complete the cycle as it would be taking off again shortly...as jets do everywhere. Fluffy's Taxis were there...two, in fact. The guy driving one, let's say I wouldn't want to call him “fluffy”.

Activity on my FIRST AIR 737 Thrusday at 2

Rankin Inlet...on the ground...was cold but was a beautiful sunny bright day with a minimal of cloud cover and the bluest of skies. Cyrus managed the luggage cart across the paved parking lot. 'Twas not easy, in fact, the cart had its own intentions. The packed snow provided a base, but the weight and the wheels combined to make it have a mind of its own...as it proceeded in its own direction. With the van finally loaded, we head off to my accommodations. Across snow covered roads, the sun blazing down (no actual heat but blazing just sounds so descriptive when its -38C).

Roadwork in Area 6 coming from the airport

We are detoured. Yes, here in Area 6 of Rankin Inlet, there was road construction in mid-February. We are detoured by a front end loader and a grater clearing snow drifts along the street. The Caterpillars are making great progress pushing the accumulated and drifted snow into piles on vacant land, well off the street. I think that Boston would love to have this much free space between buildings right now. Cyrus makes a left...then another couple of turns and “likity split”, we are here at the Health Center, another turn and we have arrived to unload at my destination.

The rampway into my housing

It's home...for the next few weeks. The building is snow covered. The steps and ramp have been recently cleared, a shovel still at the ready. The sign is mostly obliterated by past winds and the driving snow from the day before. My gear is stacked well past the entrance way as I'm greeted by Diane, the “house mother”. I bid Cyrus “adieu” and thank him for his help knowing it won't be the last in these next six weeks, as I'll be moving again...before my contract is over.

Looking northwest from my housing

I sign the necessary papers and get my access card...and then begin the job of carting and carrying the comforts of home I've brought along. I get to my room on the second (top) floor and look out my triple glazed windows as the sun begins its decent across the barren and snow covered field to my left. I start to open my luggage and begin to sort my

gear and provisions...and the finally the job of organizing my arctic accommodations.

Thinking back seven years to “the barn”, I've come along way baby. This is certainly a nice spot...very nice indeed. I put the necessary items in the fridge, stow some clothes and other necessities, and make sense of my surroundings. It's now 2:30 and I want to get to the Health Center. I was to start work this morning but was delayed by mechanical issues with our aircraft in Winnipeg. I want to make an appearance, get my bearings and meet the staff there.

My place of employment--The KIVALLIQ REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE

For the short “jaunt” across the road and parking lot, I gather my coat, mitts, toque, snow pants, boots and all and enter the front door of KIVILLAQ REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER. The back door is for staff, and although I'm one for two shifts now, I don't have the number codes....AND ITS TOO DAMNED COLD TO HAVE TO WALK AROUND THE ENTIRE BUILDING!!!!

Entering the “mud room” (or is it the snow room here?), I swing open the next door. Memories begin flooding back as I recognize many of the staff...they don't me...but I know them. I've always had trouble remembering names, at the best of times, this is no different. I was here for less than a month last time, January 2008, so its understandable that their impressions of me, at that time, may not have been everlasting. We'll fix that now.

I mention the burst pipes, first in the xray room and then,less that a week later, over the front entrance. This they remember, You begin to see familiarity on their faces...as they tell me those weren't the only ones that year. I turn right and make my way into xray...it's like I never left. There, seated in a chair at the office, is Marie, my cohort. I recognize her and re-introduce myself as Marie and I had only met briefly on my last escapade here.

She had taken a snow machine from home after her flight had landed that Monday during our record breaking blizzard in 2008. Her husband had driven her into the building so she could sign my Nunavut Territorial flag before I was to leave that Monday. All the other staff had signed and at the time, I felt privileged that she had made the journey (from home...in the blowing snow) after just returning from her leave (her flight had been one of only three that had been able to land that day). I was there for a few more days 'til the blizzard finally subsided.

The setting sun of my first afternoon of Trip #2 to Rankin Inlet

So Day Two was in the books as we left at five having done a couple of patients but mostly administrative and orientation....the meet and greet, getting my passwords, and key codes. Time to leave. The getting ready for my two minute trek across the tundra. The sun had set. The day was done.

NEXT UP: DAY THREE: It's About People