This year’s first real snowfall, meaning one that will stick around for a while, arrived October 2, 2011, so we decided to show you what an Arctic fall really looks like. This was filmed behind Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit.
Category Archives: Videos
Just another fall day in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
This year’s first real snowfall, meaning one that will stick around for a while, arrived October 2, 2011, so we decided to show you what an Arctic fall really looks like. This was filmed behind Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit.
Our trip through Iceland, August 2011
(Available in 1080p HD if you can handle the bandwidth)
Iceland is probably the coolest place on the planet (no offence to everywhere else). For us, it felt like home, meaning everything we desire is reality there. For tree-hugging vegetarians, it’s a dream, believe it or not. Reykjavik, especially, was amazing for its selection of vegetarian and raw food restaurants, and the countryside is just so otherworldly, it’s hard to not want to stay.
We rented two cars (the first was a disaster and had to be returned, but I’m not going to name names; suffice to say, rent from a reputable national or international rental agency). With our second car, a VW Golf, we toured the southern coast as far as Vik, and returned to Reykjavik en route to the Blue Lagoon. Lots of gorgeous landscape, including the geyser at Geysir, the waterfalls at Gullfoss and Seljalandsfoss (great town for camping), the black sand beach at Dyrhólaey, and the famous volcano at Eyjafjallajökull (which caused air travel chaos in 2010). We didn’t get very far due to losing a day with the first car, but we made the most of it.
Soundtrack track “Tornado” by the fantastic Icelandic musician jónsi (with permission as per http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/band/faq.php#13).
Tumivut throat singing and beat-boxing at Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit, Nunavut
Anjhela and I went to see a cool performance Friday night that we are able to share with you now. In this video, Cynthia Pitsiulak and Charlotte Qamaniq of Tumivut perform Inuit throat singing mixed with beat-boxing during a performance at their alma mater, Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada September 9, 2011. Shared with permission from Charlotte Qamaniq.
Iqaluit, NU - Cynthia Pitsiulak of Tumivut performs at a special concert sponsored by Alianait at the Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit September 9, 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Cynthia Pitsiulak (left) and her throat-singing partner Charlotte Qamaniq-Mason perform with their band, Tumivut, at a special concert sponsored by Alianait at the Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit September 9, 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Cynthia Pitsiulak (left) and her throat-singing partner Charlotte Qamaniq-Mason perform with their band, Tumivut, at a special concert sponsored by Alianait at the Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit September 9, 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Charlotte Qamaniq-Mason of Tumivut performs at a special concert sponsored by Alianait at the Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit September 9, 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Charlotte Qamaniq-Mason of Tumivut performs at a special concert sponsored by Alianait at the Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit September 9, 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Cynthia Pitsiulak (right) and her throat-singing partner Charlotte Qamaniq-Mason perform with their band, Tumivut, at a special concert sponsored by Alianait at the Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit September 9, 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Iqaluit rocker Joshua Qaumariaq performs as the opening act for Tumivut at a special concert sponsored by Alianait September 9, 2011 at Inuksuk High School.
Iqaluit, NU - Iqaluit rocker Joshua Qaumariaq performs as the opening act for Tumivut at a special concert sponsored by Alianait September 9, 2011 at Inuksuk High School.
Iqaluit skateboard camp 2011
About 30 kids attended a skateboarding camp run by the City of Iqaluit’s Recreation Department September 9-11, 2011. Ian Gauthier and Roger Besserve, two professional skateboarders from Ottawa and Gatineau, led the clinic, which was split by age groups. This video shows the older teenagers, who have enjoyed the skate park at the curling rink since it opened five years ago. Skaters featured are Isaac Idlout, Daniel Niego-Akavak, Lee Cloutier, and Nick Kolola. Video assistance by Roger Besserve, who shot the chase scene. “On and On” by Sinkhole used under CC licence.
Iqaluit, NU - Nick Kolola of Iqaluit flips his board on a ramp at Iqaluit skate camp 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Daniel Niego-Akavak of Iqaluit skates the half-pipe at Iqaluit skate camp 2011 while Isaac Idlout of Iqaluit waits for his turn.
Iqaluit, NU - Isaac Idlout slides along the edge of the half-pipe at Iqaluit skate camp 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Daniel Niego-Akavak watches fellow teens skate with Iqaluit skate camp 2011 instructor Ian Gauthier of Ottawa.
Iqaluit, NU - Lee Cloutier-Ellsworth of Iqalit jumps off a platform at Iqaluit skate camp 2011.
Iqaluit, NU - Isaac Idlout does a trick on a ramp at Iqaluit skate camp 2011.
Exploring Sylvia Grinnell Park near Iqaluit
(Note: now worth watching in 720p HD.)
It was a beautiful day to go out for a wander in Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park Labour Day. It’s funny to think it’s within walking distance from our house, but it’s easier to drive. Once you are at the park, you go over a hill and the city is gone. What a gorgeous place to find people fishing for Arctic char and hunting for berries. Watch out for the polar bears, though. Yes, there is a sign, and there was a bear there this summer.
A hike above Iqaluit and near Apex, Nunavut
(Note: now available to watch in 720p HD after we figured out the settings. Even sharper next time, we think.)
After yesterday’s cloudy weather, we went out with the car and our hiking boots to get a better view of Iqaluit. We also drove out to the beach at Apex, where you will find some old Hudson’s Bay buildings. The wind was really whipping today, so we need to invest in something to cut down the noise and to record our voices better. I saw somewhere the winds were up to 50 km/h. We also climbed the rocky hill behind our apartment, where people were picking berries, so that’s something for another video.
Anjhela’s first full day in Iqaluit and it is cold
The love of my life, Anjhela, arrived Friday and I’m so happy to have her here. I was getting pretty lonely after my first full week in Iqaluit.
We have a great apartment, which I cleaned all weekend and part of this week in preparation for her arrival. When she got off the plane, she told me she could see her breath. I didn’t really feel the cold having been in the North for a few weeks now, but she came from London, where it was +30C. Here, it was hovering around the freezing point today.
Float Plane at Old Town Float Base on Lessard Drive, Yellowknife
With this week’s beautiful weather (minus this weekend’s downpours), the colours here have been amazing, and on an exploratory walk last night, I saw a float plane in the Old Town I couldn’t resist filming. There are only a few more days here before I leave for Iqaluit, and there are a few things on my mind as I prepare to leave, including the weather that has been blowing through Goderich and Parkhill areas. It’s sad to hear of and to see the destruction the weather is causing back home, and I hope this doesn’t become a trend. Also hoping for a safe flight this week and for a safe flight next week for Anjhela. I’ll write again and hopefully post another video when I arrive in Iqaluit this weekend.
Edit: BTW, the photographer taking pictures in the video is Nigel Fearon.
August 17 – Casey Lessard in Yellowknife
I’ve just arrived in Yellowknife and already I’m put to work for the local newspaper, the Yellowknifer. Two weeks here before heading to Iqaluit, Nunavut. Stay tuned for more!