by Steve Selden | Mar 29, 2016 | Churchill Photography
Churchill photographer Katie de Meulles was able to capture these haunting yet beautiful images of the iconic Ithaca shipwreck. The ship lays grounded on the rocky sea – bed 12 miles east of town in Bird Cove. When the ship grounded it was being operated by the Clarke Steamship Company to deliver nickel from Rankin Inlet. She was sailing on return north filled with supplies for the settlement when the ships rudder fractured in 80 mph winds. When the anchors failed she ran aground on September 14th, 1960 and never moved again. All 37 crew and passengers aboard were rescued. Because the Hudson Bay is shallow along coastal areas the waves are less likely to break old wrecks apart during storms.
These intriguing shots are unique with the northern lights glimmering above the rusting hulk.The beauty blends with the symbol of tragedy to stir mixed emotions in the viewer!

MV Ithaca in Churchill. Katie de Meulles photo.

Northern lights above the MV Ithaca. Katie de Meulles photo.

Erie view of the MV Ithaca in Churchill. Katie de Meulles photo.

Darkened mass of the MV Ithaca in Churchill. Katie de Meulles photo.

MV Ithaca with glowing aurora borealis in the sky above. Katie de Meulles photo.

MV Ithaca with a strand of northern lights behind. Katie de Meulles photo.

MV Ithaca under the aurora borealis in Churchill. Katie de Meulles photo.
by Steve Selden | Mar 28, 2016 | Churchill Photography
Summer wildflower season in Churchill is still over the horizon, one filled with snow and cold, but a preview of some of the beautiful plants that adorn the rocky tundra and explode throughout the spring and summer is a good way to warm your soul. Exploring Churchill’s Arctic summer brings new discoveries as you walk the tundra and explore all the hidden places of the undulating landscape. Enjoy!

Round – leaved orchid in Churchill. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.

Fireweed in the grass. Rhonda Reed photo.

Fireweed on the Precambrian sheild. Steve Selden photo.

Polar bear in the fireweed in Churchill. Dennis Fast photo.

Fall colors starting to shine through. Ed Bouvier photo.

Arctic tern in a nesting area. Rhonda Reid photo.
by Steve Selden | Mar 27, 2016 | Churchill Photography
A great shot of race organizer and musher Dave Daley from Wapusk Adventures in Churchill. This year’s race was another tremendous showing by all mushers and volunteers. Looking forward to next year with the finish in Churchill!

Dave Daley leaving the satrt in Churchill. Nace Hageman photo.
by Steve Selden | Mar 25, 2016 | Conservation
A retired RCMP, recently convicted and sentenced of illegally smuggling narwhal tusks into the United States from Canada, has been extradited to the U.S. on related money-laundering charges in Maine. A New Jersey man, Andrew Zarauskas has also was convicted in 2014 and is currently serving time in prison. Jay Conrad from Tennessee awaits trial.
Gregory Logan, 58, of Woodmans Point, N.B., is being held in custody pending his trial date of May 3 in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Maine
Charges include smuggling of 250 narwhal tusks with a value of over two million US dollars into the United States by concealing them in false compartments in his vehicle. Prosecution asserts that Logan had been transporting tusks across the border since 2000 when he was still employed by the RCMP. He allegedly brokered the tusks to private collectors and then transferred the funds outside the US.

Narwhal tusks that were evidence in the trial of Andrew J. Zarauskas. Linda Coan O’Kresik | BDN photo.
Logan, whom was fined $385,000 and four months house arrest under an eight month conditional sentence, faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 US with the money laundering charges in the states.
“As this case shows, wildlife trafficking can involve millions in illegal transactions, compounding the damage it does to the wealth and diversity of life on our planet,” Assistant Attorney General John Cruden, of the Justice Department’s environment and natural resource’s division, said in a statement. By pursuing the criminal financial transactions that flow from trafficking, we are making [it] a less attractive and more costly enterprise.”
Narwhals live year-round in the Arctic and are a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Law prohibits importing narwhals, or any of their parts, into the United States, barring a special permit, under the Marine Mammal protection Act. Spiraled tusks, found predominately in males are actually a tooth protruding through the upper jaw, reach up to ten feet and can fetch nearly $100 an inch on the black market.
Co – conspirators Andrew Zarauskas, of Union, New Jersey,has already been convicted and sentenced to nearly three years in prison while Jay Conrad, of Lakeland, Tennessee, has plead guilty and awaits sentencing.

Andrew J. Zarauskas of Union, N.J. (left) was convicted of smuggling narwhal tusks into the US from Canada. Gabor Degre | BDN photo.
Evidence at trial showed Zarauskas, 61, doubled his money on the $85,000 he paid Logan between 2002 and 2008 for approximately 33 tusks. What was particularly egregious about Zarauskas’ case was that he was working as a confidential informer for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a separate case that did not involve narwhal tusk smuggling.
by Steve Selden | Mar 24, 2016 | Churchill News

The Port of Churchill sale expected to go through soon.
Anticipation of Manitoba’s port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay rail-line sale going through is building. The deal involving current owner Omnitrax from Denver, Colorado and a group of Manitoba First Nations are expected to finalize the sale in the short term. Omnitrax is opting out of the grain shipping business as a result of decreased numbers. After the Canadian Wheat Board dissolved and government incentives dried up, the shipping quota dwindled to 186,000 tons this past fall season- about a third of the average total for past seasons. It just seems as if Omnitrax’s heart wasn’t in the business as shipping totals have fallen consistently over the last few years. Hopes are high that a localized group with more alliances will spur growth and provide consistent employment for more local people in Churchill. Stay tuned for updates!
by Steve Selden | Mar 23, 2016 | Churchill Photography
Another superb northern lights shot by Churchill photographer Alex De Vries – Magnifico. Many people have the misconception that a full moon obstructs good aurora activity and thus photography of the incredible phenomena that fills the northern sky fairly regularly this time of year. If the light is managed correctly the moon used as a point of reference can take an image to another level.Natural Habitat Adventure’s final group of the season is in Churchill just in time for Aurora Fest and hopefully more magical aurora borealis to finish up the season. Enjoy!

Unique angle on the northern lights in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.