Does anyone have any input or opinions on living on working in the remote FSS locations in the Edmonton region (inuvik, Norman wells, and mainly rankin inlet) since they seem most likely a first posting?

Inuvik and norman wells seem fine to me, a bit remote but something I would be prepared for. It's rankin inlet that really gives me shivers. No roads connecting it to the rest of Canada, and (from what I've read, correct me if I'm wrong) very high crime rate. The crime rate concerns me because my wife would be coming with me.

Maybe someone out here could shed some light on life in these remote locations.

There are no roads connecting Norman Wells to civilization either, and the road to Inuvik is 8-10 hours of gravel. They all have daily scheduled flights, so the isolation in Rankin isn't really any worse than the Wells or Inuvik.

Redneck_pilot86 wrote:civilization

Redneck_pilot86 wrote:and the road to Inuvik is 8-10 hours of gravel

I don't know if I'd call Dawson "Civilization", and if you do, keep it to yourself, keeps them city folk away.

E

Ah I though the Dempster highway connected both down to yellowknife.

That's good to know lol thank you. Have you ever lived in a community like those? Do you consider it a safe place to live?

Rankin is staffed out of Winnipeg FIR so you don't have to worry about them. The North is what you make of it; go with a good attitude, get involved in the community and it can be a blast.

And the new Prison in Rankin is a beauty!

Don't know too much about the other two, but Rankin isn't so bad to work at anymore. Instead of living up there full time, the staff there are based in Winnipeg(I think) and do two weeks in, two weeks out.

wingandaprayer wrote:Don't know too much about the other two, but Rankin isn't so bad to work at anymore. Instead of living up there full time, the staff there are based in Winnipeg(I think) and do two weeks in, two weeks out.

Well that's good to know!
Thanks everyone for your input

I have worked in Churchill and Rankin. Rankin is two in two out and there is a list of people that want to go there. Churchill is great, I know people who work in Inuvik and Norman Wells and they love it. As someone said the north is what you make of it. If you get out and get involved your time in the north will likely be fun. That being said not everyone adjusts well, it takes a certain type of person to flourish up here. Ask almost any FSS that has done time up north and they will smile and start telling you stories!

I would get a hand gun!

I currently work in Yellowknife Tower. Before that I was FSS in Norman Wells. It is a great town; beautiful scenery, interesting people, high quality company housing, reliable Internet.

Search my username on Flickr and YouTube for more on the housing and scenery. I lived and worked there for almost five years and really enjoyed it. I would recommend it over Inuvik because of its beauty, and the smaller town feels like a more tight-knit community.

PM me if you would like more information.