Whitehorse residents are being advised that Canadian Forces, including helicopters and Canadian Rangers will be training in the area from March 10 to 15.
According to a March 10 notice from Canada's Department of National Defence, Whitehorse residents can expect to see Canadian Rangers and CH-146 Griffon helicopters operating during daylight hours in the area of the territorial capital. CH-147 Chinook helicopters and a CC-177 Globemaster cargo plane have also been seen on March 9 and 10.
The military presence is part of Operation Nanook-Takuniq 25. Its goals, according to the national defence notice, are to enhance the ability of the Canadian Rangers to act as the country's eyes and ears in the North, to further integrate the Rangers with the rest of the Canadian Forces and to boost the ability for the Canadian Forces to operate in the Yukon.
"As with all Northern operations, host communities are involved in the planning process to ensure fair and equitable stewardship of the land. JTFN [Joint Task Force North] plans its operations in order to minimize its impact on the environment and every effort will be made to minimize disruption to local residents," the notice reads.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com
