It is Sunday morning in Iqaluit. The sun is shinning and there is a fog across the frozen bay. It has been a few degrees warmer that it is in Edmonton, so heading back today gives me a bit of a mixed feeling. We have met some wonderful and genuine people who truly love this part of the country. They speak of Nunavut with pride and excitement.
We have learned so many things about life in the north and the challenges that the communities face every day. it is truly inspiring to hear the innovative ideas that are put to use. To us, it seems that these people have a real lack of fear. They take life as it comes.
Yesterday was our last day of training. All week, I wasn't sure if we were making any impact in the way the communities looked at how they handled their waste and if they would make any changes. We didn't try to suggest they go out and change everything, but to think about where they want to be in 5 years and take some small progressive steps to get there. In the early part of the week, we were getting some very skeptical looks about some of the concepts we presented. Yesterday at the course wrap up, we heard how their views about managing their wastes and their environment had changed over the week. We heard about things they can do and want to do. It is a great feeling when you get to be a part of something that has the potential to initiate change. I truly feel blessed to be a part of this.
In a couple of weeks, everyone that attended the course here in Iqaluit will make the long trip to Edmonton. There we will continue with the training but will give them a change for some 'hands-on' experience at our Eco-Stations and we'll do a bit more classroom training on some subjects that seem to be at the forefront. We will take them to some smaller rural landfills and facilities that are more in scale with the communities here, and we'll take them on a tour of the Edmonton Waste Management Facility.
This has certainly been a highlight experience of my career.