Joint Task Force North (Canada)
Encyclopedia
Joint Task Force (French: Force opérationnelle interarmées du nord) is responsible for all Canadian Forces
operations and administration in northern Canada
, namely the Yukon
, Northwest Territories
, Nunavut
and the waters of the Arctic Ocean
(within Canada
) and Hudson Bay
. JTF(N) is headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and is part of Canada Command
.
While Canadian military operations in the North date to the Yukon Field Force
during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush
, its immediate history started with the formation of Canadian Forces Northern Area (CFNA) in 1970. CFNA's motto was Custos Borealis (Latin, "Guardian of the North").
Canadian Forces Northern Area was dissolved in 2006 and replaced by Joint Task Force North (JTFN) of the new Canada Command
, commanded by Vice-Admiral J.Y. Forcier. JTF(N) is currently commanded by Brigadier-General J.J.R.G. Hamel, MSM, CD. JTF(N) has received increasing national attention in recent years with greater emphasis being made on Canada's claim to arctic sovereignty . Each summer, hundreds of Canadian soldiers participate in Operation Nanook
, an annual display of sovereignty in Canada's northern latitudes . The exercise has been carried out in 2007
, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
operations and administration in northern Canada
Northern Canada
Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...
, namely the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
and the waters of the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
(within Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) and Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
. JTF(N) is headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and is part of Canada Command
Canada Command
Canada Command is one of the seven commands of the Canadian Forces. Stood up on February 1, 2006, it is responsible for all domestic operations and national security missions; as an operational command, it works closely with the environment commands Canada Command (CANADACOM) (in French :...
.
While Canadian military operations in the North date to the Yukon Field Force
Yukon Field Force
The Yukon Field Force was a unit of 203 officers and men from the Permanent Force of the Canadian Militia in formation from 1898 to 1900. The men of the unit comprised infantry, artillery, and cavalry and were based at Fort Selkirk with a detachment at Dawson City to support the Canadian government...
during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
, its immediate history started with the formation of Canadian Forces Northern Area (CFNA) in 1970. CFNA's motto was Custos Borealis (Latin, "Guardian of the North").
Canadian Forces Northern Area was dissolved in 2006 and replaced by Joint Task Force North (JTFN) of the new Canada Command
Canada Command
Canada Command is one of the seven commands of the Canadian Forces. Stood up on February 1, 2006, it is responsible for all domestic operations and national security missions; as an operational command, it works closely with the environment commands Canada Command (CANADACOM) (in French :...
, commanded by Vice-Admiral J.Y. Forcier. JTF(N) is currently commanded by Brigadier-General J.J.R.G. Hamel, MSM, CD. JTF(N) has received increasing national attention in recent years with greater emphasis being made on Canada's claim to arctic sovereignty . Each summer, hundreds of Canadian soldiers participate in Operation Nanook
Operation Nanook
Operation Nanook was an Arctic expedition undertaken by the United States Navy in 1946. It consisted of , , USCGC Northwind , , , and .The mission is mostly documented as cartographic in nature....
, an annual display of sovereignty in Canada's northern latitudes . The exercise has been carried out in 2007
Operation Nanook (2007)
Operation Nanook 2007 was the 2007 annual joint exercise of Canada's Maritime Command and the Canadian Coast Guard to train for disaster and sovereignty patrols in the Arctic.Similar exercises were held in 2008 and 2009....
, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Reserve forces
| C Company, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4 PPCLI) | light infantry Light infantry Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight... |
Yellowknife |
| 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group with a total of 58 patrols | Canadian Rangers Canadian Rangers The Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Forces reserve that provide a military presence in Canada's sparsely settled northern, coastal, and isolated areas. Formally established on May 23, 1947, a primary role of this part-time force is to conduct surveillance or sovereignty... |
Yellowknife |
| Canadian Junior Rangers Junior Canadian Rangers Junior Canadian Rangers is an organisation linked to the Canadian Rangers, which aims to offer young Canadians, aged 12 to 18 in remote and isolated communities across Canada an opportunity to participate in a range of activities in a formal setting... |
Canadian Rangers | Yellowknife |
Bases
- CFS AlertCFS AlertCanadian Forces Station Alert, also CFS Alert, is a Canadian Forces signals intelligence intercept facility located in Alert, Nunavut on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island, at ....
: signals intelligence intercept facility - CFNA HQ YellowknifeCFNA HQ YellowknifeCanadian Forces Northern Area Headquarters Yellowknife is a Canadian Forces base located in the city of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories....
: home to 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, 440 Transport Squadron, and depending on time of year, many cadet squadrons - CFNA HQ WhitehorseCFNA HQ WhitehorseCanadian Forces Northern Area Headquarters Whitehorse is a detachment of the Canadian Forces, based approximately 24 km south of Whitehorse, Yukon....
: home to Junior Rangers detachment - CF Detachment Nunavut: detachment office
Units
- 440 (Transport) SquadronNo. 440 Squadron RCAFNo. 440 "City of Ottawa" Transport Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under the Royal Canadian Air Force. It is part of 17 Wing and Joint Task Force North located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories....
: based in Yellowknife and attached to 17 Wing at CFB WinnipegCFB WinnipegCanadian Forces Base Winnipeg , is a Canadian Forces Base located within the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Co-located at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, CFB Winnipeg is home to many flight operations support divisions, as well as several training schools...
Closed
- RCAF Station Frobisher Bay: built as U.S. Air Force airfield and closed 1957; now Iqaluit AirportIqaluit AirportIqaluit Airport serves Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada and is located adjacent to the town. It is operated by the government of Nunavut. It hosts scheduled passenger service from Ottawa, Montreal, Rankin Inlet and Kuujjuaq on carriers such as First Air and Canadian North, as well as from smaller...
- RCAF Station Resolution Island: Pinetree LinePinetree LineThe Pinetree Line was a series of radar stations located across the northern United States and southern Canada at about the 50th parallel north, along with a number of other stations located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Run by NORAD , over half were manned by United States Air Force...
station used by U.S. Air Force 1954–1961; unmanned North Warning SystemNorth Warning SystemThe North Warning System is a joint United States and Canadian radar system for the atmospheric air defense of North America. It provides surveillance of airspace from potential incursions or attacks from across North America's polar region...
radar site 1991–present - RCAF Station Resolute Bay: former U.S. Air Force airstrip; now Resolute Bay AirportResolute Bay Airport-Accidents:On August 20, 2011, First Air Flight 6560, a Boeing 737-200, carrying 15 people crashed near the airport. Twelve people were killed and three people survived. Flight 6560 was a charter from Yellowknife to Resolute.-External links:...
- RCAF Station WhitehorseRCAF Station WhitehorseRCAF Station Whitehorse was originally opened by the Department of Transport as "Whitehorse airfield". It is located at what is now the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport....
: refuelling station closed in 1968; now Lobird Trailer Court