Canada Command News Release

NR #07.004August 17, 2007

Op NANOOK Ends

Canadian Forces Complete Largest Northern Operation

IQALUIT, NUNAVUT - The Canadian Forces today completed Operation NANOOK 07, its largest operation to date in the North.

Held in the Baffin Island Coastal and Hudson Strait areas 7-17 August, the operation involved approximately 600 soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel along with the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Operation NANOOK 07 was designed to protect and defend Canadian sovereignty in Canada's North while enhancing inter-agency coordination and communication. This was achieved through two exercise scenarios:

• Canadian Forces response to a request from the RCMP for assistance with a drug interdiction event; and,
• Canadian Forces response to a request from the Canadian Coast Guard for assistance with an environmental protection event.

"The Canadian Forces have a significant role to play in supporting other government departments in the North, asserting our sovereignty, and providing assistance to our citizens," said Brigadier-General Chris Whitecross, Commander of Joint Task Force (North). "Operation NANOOK 07 has provided us with valuable experience so that we are better able to fulfil this role and protect Canadian sovereignty."

Canada Command is the Canadian Forces organization responsible for the conduct of all routine and contingency domestic operations. Joint Task Force North is the Canadian Forces organization responsible for the conduct of routine and contingency operations in Canada's North, and reports to the Commander of Canada Command.

Images of Operation NANOOK 07 are available on the Combat Camera Image Gallery website: www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca