GJOA HAVEN, Nunavut — A member of Canada’s Arctic reserve force has died during a military exercise in Nunavut.
Donald Anguyoak died Sunday in a single snowmobile accident, said RCMP Cpl. Yvonne Niego.
“There is no criminal investigation,” Niego said. “The coroner’s office has taken over.”
Anguyoak, 46, was a member of the Canadian Rangers, the largely aboriginal reserve force that works jointly with regular forces in the Arctic. He was taking part in Exercise Polar Passage, part of a program that monitors snow and ice conditions along the Northwest Passage.
Rangers from the Gjoa Haven Ranger patrol conduct sovereignty patrols and monitor the North Warning System, a joint U.S.-Canadian radar system for North American air defence.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that the death is a reminder that the Rangers and other members of the Canadian Forces face real dangers as they safeguard Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic.
“On behalf of all Canadians, Laureen and I offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Cpl. Donald Anguyoak,” Harper said.
Gjoa Haven, a community of about 1,000 people, is on the south end of King William Island, which is just north of Canada’s Arctic mainland, west of Hudson Bay.
There are about 4,700 Canadian Rangers in 173 patrols in Canada. About 1,600 of them are located in 58 hamlets in the three northern territories.
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
