WELCOME to WINNERPEG, WINTERPEG er...WINNIPEG!

Left Pearson this morning on AC259 on time, after a horrendous cattle call through security. The electronic posting said 30-40 minutes but it was longer....when you got closer to the entryway area, there was a mediator who asked what was the boarding time on your ticket and then bumped you ahead of the others. (MEMO TO BOB: BRING YOUR NEXUS). Made it to the gate with a whopping 10 minutes to go. There were others that boarded after me...there was good news, for, after departing the screening area and exiting the down escalator I started looking around for Gate D31.

For this first time in my life it was the next gate right in front of the escalator...about 50 yards straight ahead. That's why I made the plane before the doors were slammed shut. Luggage loaded, we taxied

out and took off...the sky slightly overcast with the sun trying to break through. At 8:50 local and 36,000 feet above Sault Ste. Marie I enjoyed one of Air Canada's best breakfast sandwiches. There must be a reason that they have been recently voted top North American airline for the forth year in a row. I would hate to think what the cuisine on those other carriers must be like, for them to keep winning. But, the crew was great and the pilot made up 10 minutes.

The short 40 minute layover connection to my First Air flight at 1030 north to Rankin Inlet had grown by 10. Now after talking to people who have travelled to Rankin Inlet since my last visit 7 years ago, I knew that the airport had been completely rebuilt. With less than an hour to find the right gate and check-in there, I was a little panicked. Again the travel gods were smiling. Not 50 feet, this time, from the door exiting Gate 11 where we landed...was the gate I was looking for. FIRST AIR flight 300.

The gods quickly frowned when the BEARSKIN AIR girl behind the counter told me that FIRST AIR were in an Equipment Delay until 12:30 and quickly added that First Air would buy my lunch today ...or at least give me $12.00 towards it. I sat down to get my bearings and asked her a few other questions. Yes, the voucher was good at any of the restaurants behind security but you could also go out and return through it again but she apologized warning me it might take UP TO 20 minutes and plan to be back for noon. I looked across the fifty feet and there was a LCD screen begging me to return to Toronto in short order.

Outside, it was heavy cloud cover with some snow coming down, but there was blowing snow everywhere. I looked back at and forth between the two gates and finally decided to get some grub because this might go on all day, given the current weather. I gazed out through the glass and found the First Air 737 with the ground crew loading cargo into the upper deck, right in front of seat 11A (which is mine Window seat the first row after the upper deck cargo.

I didn't want to chance more line-ups in security, so I decided to forego Stella's, I dined with the UPPER CRUST (sorry not “with” but “at”), just across from the Prairie Bistro, watching the security

The Upper Crust ...Great Baguettes... Fresh baked as needed!

here work their magic with smaller numbers. This new airport is gorgeous...wow...you wouldn't believe what it is like. Large glass, spacious areas, clean, quiet...well, pick all four. Behind the security, in the gate areas, there is shopping, several nice restaurants and that was on my end only.

Remember, it's roll-up time across Canada. There is a Starbucks, and a Tim's there...quite a distance apart..as were their coffees. But now, with Dark Roast at one and a lighter blend at so can load it in to my online game. I won a $25 gift card on day 3 of the current run. I'm a major prize winner!!! That's a story for another day...right now..the snow is still blowing but the sun has made a strong appearance and the skies are clear.

Across the seating is the Prairie Bistro

the other those differences are starting to mellow. The lineup at Tim's was very Canadian...quiet, patient, all in a straight line. Above the crowd scrolled the roll-up info...both in FRRRRRRench and English...telling the virtues of winning by in-store and online! I got the number for today

I texted Matt and left a couple of messages about the delay because as “no luck” would have it...we are further delayed now til 1 p.m. Off come the snow pants for a second time and off come the Sorel boots since we are not going outside in the near term. A couple of the Inuks decided to leave the area, leave security and head back outside to have a smoke.

FIRST AIR...The early stages of maintenance and loading of upper deck cargo

They are not back when the announcement is made “Ladies and Gentlemen information regarding the First Air flight #300 to Rankin Inlet recently scheduled for a delayed departure of 1 p.m. is now cancelled. The silence is deafening. Disappointment grows as further instruction are given. Now the lineup starts...and my thoughts are back to February 2011...West Palm Beach airport and the cancellation after multiple delays of our Direct Air flight back to Niagara Falls...we got home the next day but many didn't as the airline went bankrupt.

The difference here is that because it was NOT weather related and WAS DUE TO a mechanical

The early morning swirling snow in Winnpeg at the UPS depot

FIRST AIR working to get us going...the sun had come out nicely!

issue, the airline, FIRST AIR, is arranging accommodation overnight at the Holiday Inn...and with a meal voucher allowance as well. Well, standing in line I hear all kinds of stories. Some of the Inuit have been discharged from the hospital here in town and were on their way home, either directly to Rankin Inlet or to other communities nearby. Some are heading tonight back to the Kivalliq Native Centre for their special diet and accommodations. Some are staying in town with friends.

And the rest of us are just partying....not. The couple with the two week old baby are heading back to Arviat...just not today. We gather by one of three luggage carousels as we have to reclaim all our

The sun came out and made the ceiling gorgeous

luggage. I look at the new mom and ask where's the baby. She calmly smiles and points behind her head..The amauti...I forgot about about the amauti...the “papoose”as we used to say, Yet another story for another blog.

While awaiting the shuttle, one person tells of being delayed by weather last year daily for 5 days...and the airlines weren't responsible (because it was weather related). We further discover that there are 4 Holiday Inns here in Winterpeg. Who knew??? Which one is coming...which one are we booked for...on closer inspection, there are two right near the airport. No one stays outside long in -20 to wait for the shuttle but it soon comes. Transported by the hotel shuttle,we check in....and now we get to do it all over again tomorrow.

Baby “J” and her proud parents are resting tonight here at the hotel and we are all re-booked for tomorrow's 10:30 to Rankin Inlet . Well, I'm about to check that out. For me, from 2 a.m this morning 'til now, it's been a long day and like Baby “J” I'm not there yet either.