The following is the Executive Summary of the Western Region North of 60 Project 2025 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 Region of the Northwest Territories. Since 2010 the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) members in Edmonton and Calgary have been providing food, household items, beds and bedding, sewing machines and fabric, sports equipment as well as other items requested from members of the nine communities that we serve.

Additionally, we have worked with elders on major projects related to building and restoring facilities that meet the needs of the communities.

Our major source of transport has been barging down the Mackenzie River but since 2023, low water levels closed the river to navigation. This caused a major increase in our costs of operations however funds were raised to complete the year and to prepare for continuation in 2026.

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

This project is managed by a team of SSVP volunteers. There are no paid employees. The team develops knowledge and most importantly long-term rapport with their assigned community. This assures that our Vincentians understand the needs of the people they serve. Airlines assist our team members when they visit their Arctic contacts every few years. Team members also meet with residents of the northern communities when they visit Edmonton or Calgary for medical, work or leisure.

A first ever Edmonton SSVP Building Hope and Dignity Gala was held in June, 2025. We were able to spread the news of our North of 60’s good work and, most importantly, gather more support for our outreach to those living in need in the Arctic.

We again are grateful to our corporate benefactors who made this project financially viable. The transportation logistics, food supply and household product donations as well as the financial support continue to be strong.

Our program will continue thanks to the generous support of so many.

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.