ICE DREAM ready to row a new Arctic route in a tandem kayak named "Ikimayia" which means 'passage -er' in Inuktitut

Welcome To Ice Dream

The expedition "Ice Dream 2013" is to achieve a world first in the field of sports expeditions and sea kayaking Sebastien Lapierre and Olivier Giasson try to make the first crossing of (a portion of) the Northwest Passage in a single season in kayak sea. (Note: this will be a new route portion only of the historic Northwest Passage which is between Atlantic Ocean Arctic Circle in Davis Strait and the Pacific Ocean Arctic Circle in Bering Strait.)

From Tuktoyaktuk, we will travel  about 3500 km to get us to Igloolik end of our journey, all in less than 80 days . During the trip, we will stop in various Inuit communities to restock on food and fuel, essential for cooking our meals.

Follow along at website: http://www.revedeglace.ca/ or on Facebook: Rêve de Glace

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuktitut

http://www.snowboarding.com/news/brand/duo-attempts-northwest-passage-record-in-kokatat-gear

On July 18th, two Canadian firefighters, Sebastien Lapierre and Olivier Giasson, will depart from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories for Igloolik, Nunavut in an attempt to be the first team to kayak the Northwest Passage in a single season. Over the course of the RÊVE DE GLACE expedition, translated as "Dreams of Ice", Giasson and Lapierre will need to cover approximately 3500km in less than 80 days in order to reach their destination before the sea freezes.  They will travel approximately 45km per day in their tandem kayak, stopping at various Inuit villages to resupply their stocks of food and supplies. The duo expects to encounter strong winds, raging seas, unpleasant weather, and potentially dangerous polar bears.   Kokatat gear, including GORE-TEX® dry suits, PFD's and accessories, will help protect them from the weather, but not necessarily from the polar bears. Arctic expeditions are not new for the two men; In 2010 they spent a month un assisted on the Greenland Icecap. As firefighters the team has witnessed the savagery of fire and has decided to raise funds for the Quebec Firefighters Foundation for burn victims.  Donations can be made by sponsoring the trip by the km at a flat rate at the trips website  www.revedeglace.ca/commanditaires.html.   For more information on the paddlers and their expedition visit  www.revedeglace.ca

Today, our hands-on approach to manufacturing continues to set the standard in paddling apparel. Into the water with Kokatat!

SIDEBAR:

http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674kivalliq_arctic_foods_puts_igloolik_char_nunavut_store_shelves/

Kivalliq Arctic Foods puts Igloolik char Nunavut store shelves

Rankin Inlet-based processor offers winter-caught char filets and pipsi

PETER VARGA

Randy Innukshuk of Kivalliq Arctic Foods in Rankin Inlet displays one of the company’s most popular items, traditionally-prepared Arctic char. The company purchased more than 14,000 pounds of char caught by Igloolik-based fishers this past winter, which it is selling is selling as pipsi, pictured, as well as premium filets and smoked cuts. (PHOTO COURTESY OF KIVALLIQ ARCTIC FOODS)

Arctic char lovers in Nunavut can look forward to finding various cuts of fish from the Igloolik area, thanks to a 14,000-pound catch Kivalliq Arctic Foods recently purchased from the Baffin region community’s fish harvesters.

The Rankin Inlet-based food processor, a subsidiary of the government-owned Nunavut Development Corp., is supplying the product to food stores throughout the territory in the form of premium filets, traditionally-prepared pipsi, and cold smoked filets and pieces.

Igloolik fishermen caught the char between January and April.

“They’re of high quality and much appreciated by our customers,” said Todd Johnson, general manager of Kivalliq Arctic Foods, adding that premium filets and pipsi are in highest demand.

The pipsi, described as a dried “checkerboard filet” of cubed morsels ready to eat off the skin, is ready to eat once thawed, Johnson said.

The company counts Igloolik as one of its top suppliers of char, which it purchases from communities throughout Nunavut.

Its priority is to make all products, including caribou meat, available in all communities of the territory.

“That’s something we’ve worked at consistently over the past year,” said Johnson. “Our goal is almost achieved.”

Kivalliq Arctic gets its supplies of fish and caribou from hunter and trapper organizations throughout the territory. Igloolik’s HTO works with local fishermen to coordinate sales.

“It’s a great working relationship and we look forward to many more years of it,” said Johnson, who counted this as the second year of the supply arrangement.

Igloolik’s senior administrative officer, Brian Fleming, agreed.

“The opportunity for local fishers to sell their winter-caught char has provided an economic boost of the community and bodes well for future developments of our local fishery,” he said.

Operating out of Rankin Inlet since 1992, when it was created by the territorial government, Kivalliq Arctic Foods processes Arctic char and caribou for sale throughout Nunavut.