JetsGo
(March 21, 2005)

It's not everyday I get to go to Nunavut to cover a Seal Clubbing Protest.  And it's not everyday there is a direct flight from Toronto to Pond Inlet, Nunavut.  But this was my lucky day.  The discount airline JetsGo offered the direct flight for $99.

I'm not one for coldness or isolation but I found my trip there enjoyable.  I covered the little protest with incredible Wendy Mesley-like professionalism.  I didn't even have one misadventure until it was time to leave.

I arrived at the Pond Inlet International Airport well in advance of take-off time.  I sat patiently reading a copy of May 1999's Allure Magazine (there is not a lot of reading material up north) until I heard the announcement.

"Attention passengers for the JetsGo 14 A flight, Pond Inlet to Toronto, scheduled for 9:10.  This flight has been cancelled due to bankruptcy proceedings."

I thought I had misheard the announcement until it was repeated seven seconds later.  I sat in my chair stunned.  I tried to read but even Rosie O'Donnell's beauty tips on page 37 could not distract me.  Then another announcement was made.

"Suzy TooToo please come to the information kiosk.  Suzy TooToo to the information kiosk."

I walked to the information kiosk.
"I'm Suzy TooToo."
"You have a phone call from a Ham."
He hands me the phone receiver.

"Suzy, is your flight cancelled?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"It was just announced that JetsGo went out of business this morning at 12:01."
"Does that mean..."
"Yes, you are stuck there and I'm stuck here."

Ham was not really stuck - after all he was in California - still consoling Natalie on her Oscar loss.  California is not stuck.  Pond Inlet, Nunavut is stuck.

"Do what you can to get back to Toronto.  I'm stuck here a few more days so I need you back in the city to look after World of Ham for me."
"Okay.  Hey, how did this happen?"
"They are saying a lot of things but one is that they expanded too quickly to remote markets."
"Like Pond Inlet?"
"Bingo."

After speaking with Ham, I walked over to the JetsGo booth.  There were four people yelling at the poor JetsGo girl.  They were the same four people who protested the day before.

"Excuse me Miss?"
"Hey, wait your turn.  We aren't finished yet."
"If you are just yelling to be heard, then you are finished."

I had never heard protesters so silent before.

"Excuse me Miss.  How can we get home?"
She was almost in tears.
"I don't know.  There is no other airline from here."
"How are you getting home?  Can't we just go with you?"
"I have no way home.  There isn't enough gas in the plane to take us back.  The plane is stuck here."
"You mean the crew is stranded too?"
"Yes.  Oh this horrible.  The pilots are trying to secure a private plane to get us to Iqaluit.  Iqaluit has commercial flights to the south.  Oh this is dreadful.  I'm unemployed.  I bet my paycheck will bounce too."

Two men approached the counter shaking their heads.

"No luck Holly.  Everyone is booked with seal club expeditions.  I even tried the snowmobilers.  All seal clubbing."
"This is outrageous.  Did our protest not do anything?  Protesters!  Grab your signs.  To the private planes!"
The four protestors left.

"I guess it's just the four of us.  We're in this together."  I said with a smile.
"I'm going to talk with Mr. Okalik.  Maybe he can take us with his dog team." the captain said.
"The old guy?  Are you nuts?  Iqaluit is like seven hundred kilometres from here.  We'll freeze to death." replied the co-pilot.
"It seemed like such a nice company.  I've only been here three weeks but it was so much fun.  I've never been treated better by management... ever."  Holly was still vacationing from reality.

The captain left and returned with Mr. Okalik.
"Mr. Okalik and his older brother will help."
"But we'll freeze." said the doubting co-pilot.
"No, he will lend us some furs.  We'll be all right.  It's only two days.  Let's keep an upbeat attitude here Tommy and Holly."

"When can we leave?  How about now?" I asked.
"That's the spirit."

Within an hour we were dressed and on the beaten path.  The vast barrenness was a side of Nunavut I had not seen.  I had spent my entire time in town - accustomed to the city slicker life of the territories.  There was not much conversation on the sleds as we spent most of the time staying warm.  At the end of the first day we watched the Okalik brothers build the party an igloo.

I had never stayed in an igloo before and I must admit it was cozy - although it was quite dark.  We ate seal.  It was scrumpous.  I can see why they are clubbed.  It sort of tenderises the meet.  Overall the igloo reminded me a lot of Luke Skywalker's farm on Tatooine.  It was nice but like Luke, I was itching to leave.  Also, I could have used a few droids.

We arrived in the neighbouring village of Clyde River around lunch time.  We stopped as Holly had a craving for McDonalds.  As our sled pulled into McDonalds, we saw the CBC truck.  The National was doing a week long special in Nunavut.

We ran into the McDonalds and went directly to the CBC crew who were enjoying their McPolarBearwiches.  We quickly explained our situation.  They were eager to have the scoop on possibly the worst JetsGo story of them all: the passengers and crew left abandoned in Northern Nunavut where there had to dogsled to the nearest the airport.  We all knew it would make a great story.

Now you know too.