The following is the Executive Summary of the Western Region North of 60 Project 2024 Annual Report. To read the full report, please click the picture at the bottom of this article. Contributed by Peter Ouellette.

Executive Summary

Our Project continues to provide food security to those living in the Arctic. Since 2010 the Society members in Edmonton and Calgary have been providing food, household items, beds and bedding, sewing machines and fabric as well as other items requested from members of the nine communities that we serve.

There was bad news for North of 60 this year. The 2024 river barge from Hay River to Tuktoyaktuk was canceled when historically low water levels on the Mackenzie River made the river non-navigable. An unbudgeted $150,000 had to be spent to move the nine containers overland to the communities.

Without more donors’ support, the program’s very existence was threatened. You came to the rescue with the help that we needed. Because of your support we will find the way to continue.

This project is managed by a team of SSVP volunteers. There are no paid employees. Their role is to develop knowledge and most importantly long-term rapport. This allows the Vincentian to assure that they understand the needs of the community. The team members try to make community visits every few years. Team members also meet with residents of the northern communities while they are in Edmonton or Calgary for medical, work or leisure.

In addition to the food security provided by our North of 60 Project, we have been successful in working with three of the Communities on facility projects. Father’s House in Paulatuk, Men’s Shed in Tuktoyaktuk and Museum Project in Ulukhaktok. These projects strengthen the community’s ability to assist those in need.

We again are grateful to our corporate benefactors who made this project financially viable. The transportation logistics, food supply and household product donations continue to be strong as well as the dollar donations that many of you have made. Please continue to be generous. Our program will continue thanks to the support of so many.

In support of our 2025 initiatives, we will be holding a SSVP fund-raising Gala on June 5. We encourage you to join us. Call 825-582-7787 for more details.

Thank you for helping us to help others, and blessings to all of you.

To read the full report, please click the following picture:

About the North of 60 Project:

The “North of 60” project is an initiative by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Canada, aimed at addressing food insecurity and other pressing needs in remote Arctic communities. It represents a profound commitment to service and solidarity with some of the most underserved regions in the country.

History

The project was initiated in 2010 by Sister Fay Trombley of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception. After retiring to Tuktoyaktuk, a hamlet in the Northwest Territories, Sister Fay was moved by the severe poverty and high cost of living in the area. With support from SSVP members, the first shipping container of essential goods was sent to Tuktoyaktuk.

Since then, the program has expanded to serve nine communities in the Northwest Territories, including Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, and Sachs Harbour. Each community works closely with a paired SSVP parish or conference to ensure that the support provided aligns with local needs.

Objectives

The North of 60 Project strives to:

1. Provide food security by delivering essential food supplies.
2. Distribute household items, clothing, and other necessities.
3. Foster community development through projects like food banks, recreation programs, and infrastructure initiatives.
4. Build lasting relationships between Arctic communities and SSVP volunteers.

Goals

• Continue regular shipments of food and essential goods to Arctic communities.
• Expand community-based programs such as the Men’s Shed in Tuktoyaktuk, food banks, and local development projects.
• Address logistical challenges to ensure timely and efficient delivery of goods despite extreme weather and geographic barriers.
• Raise awareness about Arctic living conditions among supporters in southern Canada.

Successes

• Community Projects: Key initiatives include the Men’s Shed in Tuktoyaktuk, the renovation of Father’s House in Paulatuk, and the creation of a museum in Ulukhaktok. These projects have strengthened community ties and provided spaces for education, recreation, and cultural preservation.
• Logistical Achievements: Despite challenges such as low water levels in the Mackenzie River, the project successfully transported goods to remote areas, sometimes adapting by using overland routes or ice roads.
• Partnerships: Collaboration with various organizations, including Alberta Canola Producers and Edmonton Grannies, has ensured the provision of quality donations, including food, clothing, and even refurbished sewing machines.
• Direct Impact: Communities have expressed gratitude for the consistent support, with food banks established and essential goods distributed to hundreds of families each year.

The North of 60 Project exemplifies compassionate outreach, overcoming immense logistical and financial challenges to uplift Arctic communities. Through continued support and collaboration, it provides not just material aid but hope and connection to those living in some of Canada’s most remote regions.