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Introduction
History
Introduction
Clyde River, located on the east coast of Baffin Island, is sometimes called the "Gateway to the Great Fiords". It was given its English name by the Arctic explorer John Ross in 1818. It also has the Inuktitut name, Kangiqtugaapik, which means "Nice Little Inlet". The community is situated on a flood plain on the shores of Patricia Bay at the entrance to Clyde Inlet, a fiord which extends over 100km inland, almost to the tip of the Barnes ice cap. Located approximately four degrees north of the Arctic Circle, the community is well above the tree line and experiences winter conditions for most of the year. The ground is permanently frozen, which means no water/ sewer pipes can be located there.
The population of Clyde River is approximately 850 people, 95% of which are Inuit.
History
For generations, Inuit families have migrated through this area, traveling from as far away as Repulse Bay and the Iqaluit region to seek partners and visit relatives. Groups of Inuit scoured the fiords in winter and spring in search of marine animals. In the summer, they would travel inland to hunt caribou. It is believed that the Vikings were the first Europeans to visit the Clyde River area over 1000 years ago. Six hundred years later, British explorers Robert Bylo78t and William Baffin mapped the area. In the 1820, whalers crossed Greenland to Baffin Island in search of bowhead whales. As whaling declined early in the 20th century, trading increased. In 1924, the Hudson's Bay Company opened a trading post was established at Clyde River. During World War II, a US Coast Guard weather station was built at Cape Christian near Clyde River. A federal school was built in 1960, and the community moved to a new site across Patricia Bay to take advantage of a better water supply and good airstrip location.
The Community of Clyde River
Weather
Wildlife
Weather
Weather conditions are often extreme in Clyde River. The community is known for high winds, which are a constant for most of the year. Winter temperatures drop as low as -40°C, and hover regularly around -30°C.
The sun drops below the horizon around the middle of November, and does not reappear again until the end of January. Although the community does not experience 24 hour darkness, in December there is only about one hour of twilight each day. When the sun returns in January, it returns quickly, with the community receiving 24 hours of daylight from the end of April, and 24 hours of sunlight by the end of May. This lasts until the end of August.
Wildlife
In the fall, Inuit hunt narwhal in Patricia Bay. Starting in October, the annual polar bear hunt begins, and drying polar bear skins are a common sight throughout the community. In winter, hunters travel in Clyde Inlet to intercept migrating caribou. Seals are taken throughout the year, although the spring hunt at the blowholes along the floe edge is a special time for the Inuit. There is also a great deal of small game in and around town - ptarmigan, Arctic hare, geese, and ducks can be found close to town in various seasons. Arctic char is found in the waters close to Clyde River.
Polar Bear
Sunrise in Nunavut
Transportation
Housing
Transportation
There are regularly scheduled flights from Clyde River to Iqaluit. On Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays. To get to Clyde River from the south you can fly from Montreal or Ottawa on Canadian North or First Air to Iqaluit, and then onto Clyde River from there. The cost of a ticket can range from $2000 to $2500, depending on the time of year. There are other routes you can fly but these are the most common.
Most people in town get around by snowmobile or ATV. There is also a taxi service in town that will drive you around, although it is unreliable at best.
Housing
All new teachers will be assigned to staff housing. Apartments are either one or two bedroom, which can be either shared with another teacher, or occupied by one teacher or teaching couple. Be sure to ask whether or not you will be required to share your housing when you are contacted by the housing representatives.
Depending on the unit assigned, you may or may not be required to pay for your own electricity. If electricity is not included, tenants have to change this service over to their own names so they will receive the subsidized electrical rate. Tenants are also responsible for their own telephone, cable, and water charges.
Most apartments are very modern and quite comfortable; however, be sure to ask your principal or a teacher at your school to find out about the specific details of your assignment apartment.
Airport at Clyde River
School
School
Qulaq School is one of the largest schools in the Qikiqtani region. There are 23 teachers who work with over three hundred students from kindergarten to grade twelve. The school's name is derived from Qulaq, a legendary Inuk known for his hunting skills (a large marble carving of Qulaq can be seen in the front entrance of the school). The staff is equally made up of staff from the south and local Inuit. Along with teachers, there is a school community counselor, one secretary, three classroom student assistants, and
four janitors. The school has two co-principals.
The school is located in the middle of the community, and is central to all that happens in the community. It is common throughout the day to see parents and other community members dropping into the school to have coffee or just to sit down and chat.
The Inuit are very proud of their Inuktitut language. It is the language that is used in their homes and throughout the community. Students in Clyde River receive their instruction in Inuktitut up to grade three, with one period of ESL per day. Beginning in grade four, students begin to receive their instruction in English, with one period of Inuktitut language arts per day.
The school is generally well equipped with school supplies, but anything that is missing is very difficult to bring in through the year, as it is expensive to bring in materials after the annual sealift order. School in Clyde River begins in mid August and finishes in mid June. Teachers are required to work for a total of 195 days per school year. Students have classes for 174 days. The 21 days that students are not present are designated for administration, orientation, professional development, and for teachers to plan and work together on Inuit cultural themes.
Primary and elementary students attend classes for 5 hours per day, while secondary students attend for 5 hours per day.
Food
Communications
Postal Service
Power
Medical
Police
Churches
Recreation
Food
There are 2 stores in Clyde River: the Northern and the Aarruja Stores. These stores are stocked with most food items you can purchase down south (fruit, vegetables, milk, and eggs), but the prices are much higher due to the cost of shipping.
Most teachers do what is called a sealift order through Marche Turenne. You should make contact with this company as soon as you are hired because there is a deadline for ordering. This company operates out of Quebec and they can be reached at this number - (514) 637-3231. Teachers also do weekly orders for fresh produce and meats through MARCHE CENTRAL DU NORD. This company faxes the school a weekly specials page and we receive our order every Friday. You do need a credit card or a debit card to set up an account with them. They can be reached at (450) 581-5551 or by fax(1-888)-302-0027. Some teachers also order food mail. Please ask for more details about this option.
There are no banks in Clyde River; however, basic banking services are available through the Co-op or Northern Stores. There is an automated teller machine to withdraw cash, and you can open a savings account and do money exchanges with the stores. The nearest Royal Bank and CIBC are located in Iqaluit.
Communications
Telephone services in Clyde River are provided by Northwestel and you should have this set up before you arrive. They can be reached at 1-867-979-4917. Connections are reliable and it is possible to phone virtually anywhere with a minimum of difficulty. Affordable weekend and evening long distance plans are available.
CBC radio broadcasts on an FM station, which is interrupted at intervals during the day with local programming.
The Aarruja Store is the cable television provider. Their cable TV service offers about 36 channels for $59.95/month.
High-speed Internet is not available but will be soon. To have Internet access at home you must pay dial-up fees to an Internet Service Provider. Sympatico provides this service through Northwestel.
There is a small post office located in the hamlet building next to the school. Mail is delivered and sent out four times a week. The post office sells stamps and money orders and has a limited supply of things like Expresspost envelopes.
Power
The Nunavut Power Corporation supplies the town with electricity. Power service is well subsidized and fees vary depending on your residence, consumption, and household anywhere from $50. to $150 per month.
Medical
The health centre offers 24-hour on-call emergency service, and a non-emergency sick clinic open Mondays to Fridays from 9:00-12:00 am. The health centre is staffed with 2 full-time nurses. There are periodic visits from a number of different specialists, including: a pediatrician; a general practitioner; an ear, nose, and throat specialist; a physiotherapist; a speech-language pathologist; an occupational therapist; and an audiologist. A dentist usually visits Clyde River every two or three months. The health centre is equipped with a hospital bed, x-ray and E.K.G. machines, and an incubator. In emergency cases patients are transported to Iqaluit.
Police
Churches
There is only one church in Clyde River and that is an Anglican Church. Church services take place Sunday morning 11:00 am, Sunday night at 7:00 pm and Thursday night at 7:00 pm.
Recreation
The hamlet's recreation coordinator and the school organize events in the community. There are generally feasts, games, and celebrations to mark major holidays like Nunavut Day, Canada Day, Christmas, and New Year's. Basketball, volleyball, and floor hockey are played almost every evening in the school gym. The arena has scheduled times for hockey and public skating.
Travel by snowmobile in the winter and spring, and by ATV in the summer and fall are popular forms of recreation. Both snowmobiles and ATVs can be purchased from the local Northern or Co-op. You can also have your own sent up on sealift.