The Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence is working with the Municipal Training Organization and the Department of Environment for Nunavut to bring Municipal Hazardous Waste Training to municipalities across the north. This time 16 individuals from 12 northern communities will participate in 11 days of training -- 5 in Rankin Inlet and 6 in Edmonton, where they will explore methods to manage hazardous waste within their community landfills.
Jim Lapp, Dwayne Christenson and myself (Colleen Starchuk) will head to Rankin Inlet tomorrow. Training participants will venture to Edmonton for the 2nd phase of their training experience on March 25.
While we can never be sure until we begin discussions, the training team recognizes that 'waste management' in these remote communities is a different ballgame than it is in the south. As we found out from our last trek, a rocky land mass, limited shipping opportunities and year round ground frost are just some of the factors that make 'typical' methods impossible.
As before, the only thing we can all be sure of is that this northern trek will provide us as much learning as we are hoping to provide. Our last foray exposed us to rich culture, a strong sense of community and greater perspective about the challenges of supporting a remote community.
More to come as the adventure unfolds...
As the temperature in Iqualit reaches past -30 I just want to say "thank you" for agreeing to go two years in a row. If it's any consulation, its -20 year in sunny Edmonton. Have a safe journey. Janice
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