Time is Ticking

I’ve been debating for a while about writing this blog. A part of me was thinking who would  really care about what my family and I are experiencing during our time while living in the Canadian artic.

As we have been getting closer to our departure to the north, more and more people have been asking me if I was going to blog about it. I’m far from a writer, but willing to give it a go.

So here we are 15 days before we depart for our new life in Aklavik in remote North West Territory Canada writing my first ever blog.

I was born and raised in the outer suburbs of Melbourne Australia. Youngest of 5 kids and lived what I’d call a pretty normal life.  Normal until sitting in my office almost 14 years ago when I decided I wanted to do something different before it was too late.  So after some thoughts I decided to take a year and spend it in Canada.  That year has lasted 14 years, and in that time I’ve managed to meet and marry my wife,  have two amazing children who are now 8 & 7 and live a pretty decent life.

We live in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, it’s a beautiful part of the world and we do Love living here.  The people of this community are some of the most generous and wonderful people you could ever meet,but there is a problem here.  Things are slowing down, industry is leaving, unemployment is high and the opportunity to really get ahead from where we are is slim pickings. 547_001

In the back of our minds we knew  at some point we would need to make a move somewhere.  Never in our wildest dreams did we think that move would be 1.6 degrees north of the Arctic lCircle. A big move for anyone let alone a family of 4.

aklavik_23-07-2011

So in 15 days we get on a plane and begin the next chapter of our lives. I’ll be managing a retail store and my wife Lori will be working with me. This blog will be about our life, and the experiences both good and bad that we encounter. It’s also a tool for me to be able to step back and reflect on what’s happening in my world.

So here we go…. Wish us luck!  

12 thoughts on “Time is Ticking”

  1. I look forward to may stories about your adventure. what courage it takes to make such a change .best of luck to the whole family. so exciting.

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  10. Hi there –

    It’s funny. I was in post office yesterday and saw someone mailing several large action packers. My first thought was – “Going North!” as was very, very used to this when we lived in the NWT for 19 years. And, when I peeked at the address (am nosey!) and saw “Aklavik” on the label – I smiled to myself. I should have said something – I assume it was Lori that was doing the mailing.

    I also noticed it said “Northern Store” so seems that you are the new Northern manager up there. We lived in Norman Wells from 1994 to 2013 and absolutely loved it – it’s a different kind of life for sure, but if you like that sort of lifestyle it’s absolutely the best. I was the Regional Wildlife Biologist with the Gov’t of NWT for the Sahtu Region – that’s the big hunk in the middle of the NWT with Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Tulita, and Deline as communities. Northern Stores in all but Colville so assume you’ll meet contacts in those communities. I was in Aklavik a few times over the years – very neat little community with lots of history. The Town that Refused to Die!

    Saw the link to this on the Pictou County Facebook page and thought I’d check out the blog. Have ‘followed’ it so I get notification of updates.

    Wish you all the very best in your move and with life in the western Arctic – you’ve sure come a long way from Melbourne, Australia!

    Cheers

    Alasdair

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    • Hey there… Well it just shows us how small this world really is.
      Everyone we’ve spoken to about Aklavik has said that it’s a great community, so we are truly looking g forward to our new life up north.
      Thanks, Paul

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