Iqaluit and Ottawa

Sep 16-19, 2021
AC468 YYZ-YOW, Sep 17 5T103 YOW-YFB, Sep 18 5T106 YFB-YOW, Sep 19 YOW-YYZ

Having been to 10 provinces and 2 territories, we’ve been wanting to get to Nunavut to fully cover Canada. Luckily, Aeroplan provides tremendous value for the destination, if you’re lucky enough to find a seat. Traveling at the end of the summer in a quiet travel year made it quite possible.

Sep 17

After overnighting in Ottawa, we headed back to the airport and caught our non-stop flight to Iqaluit, then walked a few kilometers to our hotel.

Uniquely tri-lingual stop sign

Where the satellites need to point down to find the sky

Walking outside of town on the "Road to Nowhere"

Naiqunguk River

More of the arid tundra

Koojesse Inlet off the Arctic Ocean

Iqaluit Harbour

Looking across the Inlet

Local housing

Local art in the Visitor Centre

Ski-Doo ready for winter

Frobisher Cemetery

Red fishing boat along the inlet

Original Hudson's Bay building

More of the Hudson Bay settlement

Every territory needs at least one Tim Horton's

We grabbed some takeout food for dinner at our hotel before drawing the blackout shades to get some rest.

Sep 18

With most of the day to explore before our evening flight, after breakfast, we headed out on foot to see more of the town and surrounding area.

Inukshuk outside of Nunavut Arctic College

St Jude's Cathedral

Very practically built Nakasuk School is well insulated and has only tiny windows

Some of the Iqaluit public art

Legislative Assembly of Nunavut

More of sculptures outside the legislature

Hiking along the Sylvia Grinnell River

Looking down on the town from above

NORAD defense radar

Remains of previous US installation

Looking back on the unique terrain as I head back to town

Having completed our exploration we headed back to the hotel and walked back to the airport for our evening flight to Ottawa.

Sep 19

After staying overnight in Ottawa, we had a decidedly warmer and sunnier day to enjoy the city before heading home to Toronto.

Looking across the Ottawa River to the Canadian Museum of History

Parliament Hill from across the river

Alexandra Bridge

Up close to the Museum of History

Very Canadian art installation at the museum

Supreme Court of Canada

Parliament Hill and the Centennial Flame, surrounded by remembrances for victims of residential schools

The Canal Locks

National War Memorial

Modern Shaw Centre across the canal

Full perspective of the Centre

With the benefit of sun, we walked back to the hotel to checkout, and headed to the airport for our evening flight back to Toronto.