Operation NEVUS 2017 concludes today on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut
Press Release
June 30, 2017 – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – National Defense / Canadian Armed Forces
Operation NEVUS concluded today with successful maintenance and upgrades to the High Arctic Data Communications System (HADCS) sites between Eureka and Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. A key accomplishment this year was significant upgrades to the Eureka Camp to improve both accommodations and fuel areas.
About 80 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Department of National Defence civilian personnel participated in the operation.
The purpose of the operation is to maintain the HADCS sites between CFS Alert and Eureka, ensuring the critical communications link connecting the Canadian high Arctic to the Government of Canada in Ottawa remains unbroken and operational.
As highlighted in Canada’s new Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada is committed to having an increased presence in the Arctic over the long-term, and to working cooperatively with Arctic partners.
Quotes
“As a result of a superb Defence Team effort, Joint Task Force (North) has successfully completed Operation NEVUS 2017. I am proud of all the members who deployed to the most northern reaches of Canada in order to maintain critical Government of Canada infrastructure.”
Brigadier-General Mike Nixon, Commander, Joint Task Force (North)
Quick Facts
- Operation NEVUS is the annual deployment of a CAF technical team to Ellesmere Island to perform essential preventive and corrective maintenance on the HADCS.
- This year’s key activities included:
- Maintaining and upgrading the HADCS to continuously provide communication support to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and NAV Canada;
- Upgrading the Eureka Camp with a new water softener and heaters for better accommodation and energy efficiency, and making repairs to fuel tanks and fuel farm barriers; and
- Cleaning, crushing, and disposing of hundreds of empty fuel drums at the Eureka fuel farm in accordance with current environmental best management practices.
- Commanded by Joint Task Force (North), participants in Operation NEVUS 2017 include:
- Engineers and technicians from the Department of National Defence’s Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management) and Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure & Environment);
- Construction engineers from 8 Wing Trenton; and
- Personnel and aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force, including Valcartier-based 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron equipped with the CH-146 Griffon helicopter, and Yellowknife-based 440 (Transport) Squadron equipped with the CC-138 Twin Otter.
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Contacts
Major Josée Bilodeau
JTFN Public Affairs
Phone: 867-873-0700, ext 6056
Email: Josée.bilodeau@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
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