Winters are changing in the North.
The sea ice is not closing in as early. It is more difficult to reach the flow edge.
This year, we were not able to dog sled or skidoo out to the cabin because of ice conditions.
Under COVID, the importance of electronic devices and Internet service is critical to the sense of community.
We spent more time indoors, playing traditional games: jigsaws, crosswords. Also, a new suite of board games: Swish, Photosynthesis, Ticket to Ride. These games showed the sophistication of game design.
It would appear that there is an opportunity to marry game design with GIS technology. We could develop new games based on the lifestyle of different geographies.
Imagine games that explore the lifestyle of living close to the land in Nunavut?
Another lesson is the food availability in the North. During our stay, we were treated to musk ox, ptarmigan, and Arctic char. Perhaps this is the basis of the ’palaeo-diet’ in the North?
Visiting Nunavut in the festive season, there was the opportunity to share some of the bizarre entertainment rituals of the South (e.g. TV shows). Take, for example, Mr. Bean’s Christmas or the National Lampoon Christmas; a far cry from present-day reality but a bridge across the generations.
The overriding message is that it is easier to explore these different geographies if you can access supportive geographic technologies.
Understanding the impact of global changes, whether COVID or climate, on lifestyle and communities in different parts of Canada and beyond, demands such access.
That does not diminish the fact, with aging, these environments present added challenges. We look forward to our return to Home Place, and the nearby, suitably named Last Hope camp.
Acknowledgments
To Andrew, Julia, Quinn and Isla who made our stay possible and enlightening. Heather showed her usual adaptability. Edward added his touch.
Ernest Blair Experiment 
Bob, you suggest linking GIS with Game Design. What a great thought and opportunity! In the online game “Clash of Clans” I am automatically notified if someone has attacked my village. I survey the damage then work to fix things to mitigate future problems. Wouldn’t it be useful to, likewise, be notified via open GIS and live maps when a corporation is/plans, for example, clear-cutting woodlands close by.
LikeLike
Looks like we will have to stop over in Ottawa. Flights delayed from Iqaluit. Bob
Sent from my iPad
LikeLike
Bob
Happy New Year to you and Heather! I hope you had an uneventful trip back from the high north.
I realize I am behind in responding to several of your messages and posts. The holiday period was a mix of goofing off and catching up on long overdue work items, so starting the new year with a relatively clean desk.
While we here on the South Shore are not taking enough note of our non-winter, your reports from the North remind us what’s going on beyond Covid and that what’s going will make Covid look like a walk in the park, literally. Climate change is more palpably a life and death matter in the high north than in the sleepy south and I fear that if, as and when Covid finally fades into the woodwork, everybody here will have emergency fatigue and not be open to messages of concern, not to mention alarm. (Reminds me that I should go back and look at James Howard Kunstler’s “The Long Emergency” — he’s the author of the “Geography of Nowhere” and an interesting guy.
Given the rise of Omicron, it won’;t surprise you to learn that the ACFA/NSCC/GIS exploratory meeting is going to be postponed. We will see how Omicron goes in the next couple of weeks and maybe set a tentative date for early to mid February. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, Thursday is booster day. (If you are not booked and want to get into the queue quickly, try calling in to the booking line at about 6:50 am. I got right in both times for me and for Leslie.
Our work with ACFA is slowed down but we are hoping to get some new directions from the next meeting in about two weeks. I will let you know.
Brian
PS I like your idea about video games and geography. FYI my son Luke Arnott is a PhD in Media Studies and teaches game theory at the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western. He learned absolutely nothing of any of this from his father, in case you were wondering.
Brian Arnott Principal Novita Interpares | Leaf + Branch
novitainterpares.ca
>
LikeLike