So, doing my research on Churchill, I’ve come across several interesting facts. Like, there’s either more people than polar bears or more polar bears than people, depending on whom you ask. And really, the Manitoba government should build a road to Churchill already and link it up with Nunavut.
But you can’t drive to Churchill, so you’re resigned to either flying or taking the train on some rather rickety rails, as the closer you get to Churchill, the slower you have to go. The train trip from Winnipeg to Churchill takes 48 hours. Forty-eight! Thompson Girl could walk there faster.
Churchill is a small town. About 1,000 people live there, give or take. However, this does not include the tens of thousands of tourists who flock there yearly to take in the bears, the whales, the birds or the Northern Lights. Which, apparently, are going to be spectacular this year thanks to a giant ol’ sunspot aimed directly at earth and might give off some wicked solar flares.
Which may also disable satellite communications.
But it doesn’t matter, as I probably won’t get to see them as the weather calls for cloud, cloud, and snow. And more clouds. Forget satellite communications, I want to see the Aurora Borealis in all their glory! Curse you, Environment Canada!
That’s OK. I will see many, many polar bears and other creatures. They have a Northern Store. They have a rec centre. The have internet. They have hot chocolate.
But the best thing about Churchill? The local newspaper publishes whenever they feel like it.
Now isn’t that an interesting fact?
– Managing Editor Elisha Dacey can see the appeal of deadlines whenever she damn well chooses them. Reach her at elisha.dacey@metronews.ca or on twitter @elishadacey.
