A is for ARCTIC...and Y is for YELLOWKNIFE

Welcome to Yellowknife...
Diamond Capital of North America...who knew??

..and so begins a northern alphabet. The word ARCTIC is used extensively in our vocabulary to describe many things..most of them weather related. Arctic winds, arctic exploration, arctic warming, arctic tourism...these words bring forth a different meaning in our lives depending upon each personal experience.

The recent climate conference in Paris brought forth more publicity regarding the climate changes that the north is experiencing. It told of higher sea levels and the extensive loss of habitat to name just a couple. The people of the north have a totally different perspective because their ancestors have lived it for centuries. 

The setting sun in Yellowknife, 2:15 local time

There was fresh snow on arrival...and TREES in Yellowknife!!!

Last night in the grocery store here in Yellowknife, the clerk was relating the weather changes that she had seen in her 50 plus years. When I told her what a beautiful day we had just experienced (it was -12C and sunny with clear blue sky), I got the reply "before, it used to be colder...about -50C and it would stay cold this time of year for 6-8 weeks..not like now", That seems to be the message coming through for most of us...the reasons are still very controversial. 

One aspect of further investigation in Cambridge Bay will be the current status of CHARS...the Canadian High Arctic Research Station announced in 2012 and due for full completion by 2017 and located in the hamlet. Will the new government continue its support of this vital project? With over 40 full time researchers scheduled to work there studying all aspects of Arctic life...the need is great. Perhaps, the support shown in Paris will re-enforce a commitment.

Just another snow machine travelling about

The sights and sounds of the north are unique. I took a couple of small walks just to get the muscles going again after sitting on the two flights today. Tonight, the reverberating motors of propeller driven planes, overhead, on their approaches to and from the Yellowknife airport in the heavy cold air is coupled with the sounds of snow machines as they travel about. Sounds we heard many times in february and march while in Rankin Inlet...and in Niagara along the roadways and fields during last year's heavy snow coverage.


There is little wind tonight and the "scrunching" on snow as you walk along the plowed sidewalk areas is another unique sound the north makes. Up here, when the winds blow...the winds blow..but not tonight. It's relatively calm...or is it I'm getting used to it?

When the weather forecasters make reference to the arctic...most of the time they are referring to the colder aspect and effects on our weather in Niagara...the cold arctic air flowing south to affect us. The term is used today often by weather people to describe any movement of the air currents from the north towards more southern areas...and over time this has led to negative connotations.

You can tell you are on a major airport hub going north
just from the display of tubs in Walmart

More recently Arctic Air referred to a television series set in Yellowknife, Northwest Territory (NWT). Originally produced by the CBC it lasted but 3 seasons and told the stories of Krista, Mel, Bobby and all...their lives, a struggling local airline company and their interactions and stresses dealing with life in the high arctic. Reruns of the 35 episodes are still shown on APTN and are available on line.

The term "arctic air" was used extensively by various heating and cooling contractors in the early sixties to describe the early onset of climate controlled living. It's something that we take for granted as a staple in today's living but this wasn't always the case. In Calgary, one HVAC company is actually named ARCTIC AIR.

Is this my brother's store in Yellowknife....?

But those of us in eastern Canada and the American northeast have a much different reaction when listening to the weather forecast. Our ears perk up, and unless you are a skier, the reaction is more negative when hearing those famous words "Arctic air will 
affect our weather for the next few days".

For me it's more like...
         ..... the next month.

..no just a faulty bulb...