Cool Hot Tea Photo from Michael Davies

by | Dec 28, 2015 | Churchill Photography

About a week ago I re-posted this photo from Michael Davies in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. He and his friend, Markus Siivola, journeyed about 45 minutes by snow machine to mountains outside of town to capture the image. Considerable thought went into the composition and environmental factors beforehand. Davies knew he needed at least minus 40 degrees for the tea to freeze mid – air, little or no wind and a sunset behind to highlight the tea and subject. All three factors contributed to an amazing shot that became an internet sensation spread all over social media during the holidays.

The pair filled six thermoses with hot water  at different levels to experiment and see which worked best for the shot.

“In each one we threw in a tea bag because we thought, if this doesn’t work, at least we can have a tea, because, as everybody knows, in Nunavut we go to great lengths to have tea somewhere strange, whether it’s in front of an iceberg, or on top of a mountain or in the middle of the tundra.” stated Davies.

The one seen was the second shot which Davies wasn’t sure about at first. After posting on the web the popularity proved this one was the golden shot.

Sunset with freezing tea in Pangnirtung, Nunavut

Hot tea freezing mid air in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. Michael Davies photo.

Michael Davies is an accomplished photographer with a love of nature and outdoor photography. His website https://michaelhdavies.com/ displays his considerable talent in this realm. These couple of amazing northern lights images are from the high Arctic in Pangirtung, Nunavut. These should get everyone excited for the upcoming aurora borealis season in Churchill!

Northern lights in Pangnirtung

Northern lights in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. Michael Davies photo.

warm_inside_064 michael Davies

Northern lights in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. Michael Davies photo.

Hudson Bay Quest – Musher Update

by | Dec 27, 2015 | Churchill News

Hudson Bay Quest 2014. Brad Josephs photo. Churchill, Manitoba

Hudson Bay Quest 2014. Brad Josephs photo.

Here’s the updated musher roster for the 2016 Hudson Bay Quest. This year’s race leaves Churchill heading towards Gillam on March 17th…yes St. Patrick’s Day. Let’s hope the luck of the Irish is with the mushers and helps with the weather. As the race draws nearer we will have updates and musher profiles.This year’s race will be another exciting event in the north!

1.) Dan DiMuzio
Kennel – Sleddog Energy
Churchill, MB

2.) Charlie Lundie
Kennel – Charlie’s Kennel
Churchill, MB

3.) David Daley
Kennel – Wapusk Adventures
Churchill, MB

4.) Justin Allen
Kennel – Wapusk Adventures
Churchill, MB

5.) Peter McClelland
Kennel – White Wilderness
Ely, MN, USA

6.) Shawn McCarty
Kennel – White Wilderness
Ely, MN, USA

7.) Jamie Nelson
Kennel – Rocky Glenn
Togo, MN, USA

8.) Craig Houghton
Kennel – Craig and Sean Racing Dogs
Fort St. James, BC

9.) Leanne Bergen
Kennel – Gone to the Dogs Racing
Sioux Lookout, ON

10.) Matt Groth
Kennel – Grand Marais Sled a Dog Adventures
Grand Marais, MN, USA

11.) Ryan Anderson
Kennel – AnderTier Racing
Ray, MN, USA

12.) Stefaan De Marie
Kennel – Akela’s Den Racing Kennel
Christopher Lake, SK

Traditionally the HBQ has around 17 mushers in the final field. registration is open and we expect a few more entrants.

Port of Churchill Sold to First Nations Group

by | Dec 21, 2015 | Churchill News

Churchill Port, Churchill , Manitoba

Port of Churchill grain shipping operation on the Churchill River. Port of Churchill photo.

A First Nations group based in Northern Manitoba is in the process of buying the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay rail line from OmniTrax, a Denver ,Colorado based company. The town known as the polar bear capital of the world has been struggling to keep the ancillary business viable in these changing times.

The First Nations group provided a letter of intent for the purchase of the port and the Hudson Bay line – the stretch of track from The Pas to Churchill – as soon as both sides complete necessary research on the transaction.The rail line is the lifeline that connects all the small communities that have no road access in the region.

“It’s a group of communities along the line and others that, you know, over the period of time have always believed the railway was theirs. This now can become a reality based on current negotiations,” said OmniTrax president Merv Tweed. With the invested interest that the group has to keep the rail line running smoothly as a means of access to their remote communities, train service there and onto Churchill should thrive for the distant future.

At this juncture of the negotiations the buying group nor the purchase price of the assets has not been specifically identified.

“They’ll make their own statement in their time,” Tweed said.

For the next 45 days OmniTrax and the First Nations group will engage in a “due diligence period in which both parties will work together to ensure that a purchase becomes a reality,” a news release from Omnitrax stated. Omnitrax has agreed to work with the First Nations group for the next several years to facilitate a smooth transition. However, given the lack of success that Omnitrax has had in managing the port and increasing the shipping quota, this new regional rooted infusion might be a time to try new strategies for building the business and attaining higher levels of success.

OmniTrax acquired and began operating the port and rail line in 1997, though a reduction in grain shipments has placed financial strain on the operation. An attempt to diversify and specifically ship oil through the port was met with voracious public outcry which inevitably killed the initiative. The operation just seemed dead in the water after that battle this past year.

All these factors combined spurred the company to announce earlier this month plans to sell the operations. A quicker than expected sale agreement and local interest in the growth of the operation has instilled high hopes for the next phase in the life of the Port of Churchill. The operation employs roughly 100 local workers.

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