The Canadian Rangers pause on a mountain plateau on Feb 27.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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As superpowers jockey for control in the Arctic, it’s become more important than ever to understand the role and actions of Canada’s defence in the region.
For 19 years, the Canadian military has run Operation Nanook, its annual flagship set of Northern exercises designed to test sovereignty, readiness and the ability to operate in one of the world’s harshest regions.
Arctic snowmobile trek pits Canadian Rangers’ resolve against a ‘nightmare’ storm
But now that the region has become more strategically important, the Canadian Rangers have gained international renown among allies for their ability to cross the harsh terrain.
Gavin John, a journalist and strategic studies graduate student at the University of Calgary, recently made the daunting trek with a group of Canadian Rangers across the Arctic by snowmobile. He wrote about the trip and the changing infrastructure of Canada’s Northern strategy.
Reporting from the Far North is important, even when it freezes your cameras solid
John answered reader questions about his trip with the Rangers and Canada’s past and future plans for Northern security.
Why is the region so strategically important? How has Canada’s defence plans changed in the last few years? What is it like surviving a blizzard? Read his responses below.