Iqaluit was a different story. I know a couple of the torch bearers and had a chance to chat and catch up with them after the event, the crowd was very social with almost everybody knowing everyone else, and there was not a bunch of pomp and ceremony or security getting in the way of that – we mixed and mingled, talked and laughed and shivered and stamped or feet to keep warm, watched performances on a small stage that you could actually get close enough to to touch, drank hot coffee/tea/chocolate, ate BBQ’d hot dogs, and nobody cared that it was -25 degrees, the wind was blowing, that the event was running behind because the plane was an hour late getting in, or that a few streets were blocked off.

That’s the north folks, and it’s the reason I keep going back

….. it’s about -20 C here day with a brisk wind, not enough to keep me indoors by any means.

Was just out with the camera and got some great pics (will share when I get back south and have a faster internet connection to play with) – the Olympic torch run starts in a couple hours which is reason #3 for coming to visit so I’ll soon be putting the jacket back on, grabbing the cameras and heading out to find a good vantage point… after that I’ll go for coffee & and bit of a warm up while the political types make their speeches, and then go hang out with family and friends at one or more of the community celebrations.

I suppose I could have seen the torch run when it comes through Ottawa (I haven’t seen the schedule but it’s sure to be there) but it promises to be way more fun up here.