Joint Task Force North & North of 60 MFRC Posting Handbook Location: Iqaluit Updated: Mar 2017 JTFN Contact Information Joint Task Force North Box 6666, Station Main Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R3 Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/FOIN.JTFN Twitter: @JointTaskForceN North of 60 MFRC Information North of 60 Military Family Resource Centre 5124 54th Street Box 6666, Station Main Yellowknife NT X1A 2R3 Telephone # 873-0700 ext. 6859 Fax# 867-766-6815 Email: [email protected] Facebook Page: Mfrc North The North of 60 MFRC serves military personnel and their families in: Yellowknife, NT Whitehorse, YT Iqaluit, NU Centre Staff Executive Director Information & Referral Coordinator Ext. 6998 Ext. 6845 [email protected] [email protected] Social Worker Administrative Assistant Ext. 6844 Ext 6859 [email protected] [email protected] 1 JTFN Command Team Welcome Congratulations on your upcoming posting to Canada’s North. Joint Task Force North is a family of Canadian Armed Forces personnel and DND civilian (Public and non-Public) personnel and their families across the three Territories. We exist to plan, conduct, and support operations and exercises in the largest CAF Region in Canada. You will soon realize that there are a wide variety of opportunities that come with service north of the 60th parallel. Joint Task Force (North) HQ (JTFN-HQ) is the command element and is located in Yellowknife, NT. To stay connected with other defense and security partners and with the other territorial governments, there are small JTFN-HQ detachments in both Whitehorse and Iqaluit. We refer to all CAF / DND elements in the North as “Team North” and we are extremely proud of our motto: Custos Borealis, or Guardians of the North. Beyond HQ JTFN, Team north is also comprised of the following Yellowknife based members; the Area Support Unit North (ASU (N)), the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 440 Transport Squadron (home of the Vampires), and the headquarters of the Canadian Army’s 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (ICRPG), which exercises command and control over 1800 Rangers divided into patrols across 60 northern communities. 1CRPG also supports well as over 1600 Junior Canadian Rangers. Finally, we are home to the Army Reserve’s Loyal Edmonton Regiment (LER) as well as Cadet Corps in a number of locales. A posting to Canada’s north can be both rewarding and challenging. Expect the cost of living to be a bit higher than what you have previously experienced, and the quality of housing to be slightly lower than you may have had in the past. However, both of these facts are far outweighed by the opportunity to work and experience life in the most beautiful part(s) of our great country. For those that are moving to either Detachment Whitehorse, or Detachment Iqaluit, your experience will be unique, and your will find yourselves part of wider federal employee community in your respective territorial capitals. As a member “Team North” stationed in Yellowknife, you will have an opportunity and experience few members of the CAF are afforded. Not unlike other postings, a tour “north of 60” will be what you make of it. That said, there will many things you may not have expected; JTFN led Operations take place year round in either planning or execution phases. This, combined with an active support system through the MFRC and PSP staff, can make a tour in the north very rewarding and challenging. Additionally, you will find a very active Mess calendar and there will be a multitude of social opportunities for all ages. For those who enjoy the outdoors your tour with JTFN will prove one of your most memorable; the experience in the NWT should be exactly as the moto emblazoned on the NWT licence plate states, – SPECTACULAR! Have a safe and adventurous move to the north, and we look forward to meeting you and your family members once you are settled. Custos Borealis BGen Mike Nixon – Commander JTFN CWO Ron Beyerbach – Formation CWO 2 North of 60 MFRC Executive Director’s Welcome The Advisory Committee and Staff at the North of 60 MFRC extend, to you and your family, a warm welcome to the North. One of our goals is to assist military families with their transition to their new home and their Northern adventure. This handbook is just one tool to assist with this transition. Our friendly staff members are here to assist you and your family with accessing information within and about your new community. To get a sense of the goings on in Iqaluit and the North of 60 MFRC we encourage you to visit our website at www.cafconnection.ca. A note of caution for those of you with children; there are extremely long wait lists, two to three years, for child care spaces in Iqaluit. Your North of 60 MFRC staff members are available to assist you with your individual family needs. We are available to answer any questions you may have about living in the North. I encourage you and your family to contact me, with any questions you may have, at [email protected] or 873-0700 ext. 6998. Don’t be shy! We look forward serving you and your family! Rose Jasmin Executive Director 3 Table of Contents Commander’s Welcome Page 2 MFRC Executive Director Welcome Page 3 About Your MFRC Page 6 About Iqaluit Page 7 Emergency Contact Information Page 7 JTFN HQ Detachment Nunavut Page 8 Accommodations Page 8 Finances and Benefits Page 9 Tax Benefits Page 9 Screening and your Posting to an Isolated Location Page 10 Detachment Nunavut sponsor Page 10 During your DIT to Iqaluit Page 10 JTFN Traffic Section Page 11 Once you arrive in Iqaluit Page 11 Reporting-in Procedures Page 11 CAF Relocation Coordinator Page 11 Mess Page 11 Family Care Planning Page 11 Daycare Page 11 After School Care Page 12 Schools Page 12 Post-Secondary Education Page 12 Health Care Page 13 Health Care Coverage Page 13 Chiropractors Page 13 Dental Page 13 Optometrists & Eye Glasses Page 13 Mental Health Services Pages 13-14 Family Violence and Safe Homes Page 14 Services for people with disabilities Page 14 Services Pour les Francophones à Iqaluit Pages 14-15 Local Information for Newcomers Pages 15-24 Air Transportation Page 15 Animal Care Page 15 Arts & Culture Page 15 Banks Page 15 Barbers and Hairdressers Page 16 City Transportation Page 16 Drycleaners Page 16 Insurance Page 16 Internet, Phone and Cable Pages 16-17 Job Search Page 17 Library Page 17 Local Newspapers Page 17 Passports Page 17 Personal Shipments Page 18 4 Places to See Page 18 Places of Worship Pages 18-19 Post Office Page 19 Recreation Groups Page 19 Recycling Page 19 Restaurants Pages 19-20 o Big Four Dining o Pubs and Take-out Shopping Pages 20-21 o Groceries o Convenience Stores o Department and Furniture Stores o Electronics Stores o Fishing and Hunting o Pharmacies o Sealift o Second Hand Items Sports & Recreation Pages 21-22 Taxi Services Page 22 Theatre Page 22 Tourism Pages 22-23 Traffic Page 23 Utilities Page 23 Vehicle Related Items Pages 23-24 o Gas Stations o Leasing, Rentals and Sales o Repairs and Services o Snowmobiles and ATV’s Helpful Links Page 24 About Joint Task Force North Pages 25-30 5 About Your MFRC Due to factors associated with isolation as well as the smaller military community size, the North of 60 MFRC operates under the Out-of-Canada model. It is responsive to the Chain of Command and operates with the assistance of a volunteer Advisory Committee. This MFRC reports to the United States Regional Manager, instead of a Board of Directors. The Advisory Committee is a group of volunteers (military personnel, military family members and community agencies). The Advisory Committee plays a critical role in the operation of the organization, ensuring that the community’s needs and preferences are adequately represented when programs and services are implemented. Our MFRC staff team consists of an Executive Director, a part-time Administrative Assistant, Information and Referral Coordinator and a Social Worker. We also rely on the involvement of volunteers to assist us in providing programming to our military community. We provide support to our military families by assisting them through transitional periods (before and after posting or prior to releasing), providing information and referral services (local and national information), mental health services as well as access to and funding for emergency child care. Through an outcome based model we aim to meet our military family needs using a one on one family centric approach. Need assistance or have a question? We are here to assist you! Information and Staying Connected The MFRC web-site, www.cafconnection.ca, contains program information and useful links. Have a topic you want to chat about or just want to meet other North of 60 MFRC members then friend request us on Facebook, search for Mfrc North. 6 About Iqaluit Iqaluit is the capital city of Nunavut. It is located on the south coast of Baffin Island and at the head of Frobisher Bay. Its population is 7,177 and is home to the Iqalungiut and a diverse mix of people across Nunavut, Canada, and the world. Iqaluit is quite different from any other Canadian capital with it being the smallest in terms of population as well as it not being connected to any highways. Aircrafts are basically the only way in and out of this isolated capital. Canadian North and First Air serve as Iqaluit’s two main airline providers that fly to and from Ottawa, Montreal or Yellowknife.