Latest news with #CanadianRangers
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Search on for missing Norwegian hiker last seen near York Factory
Search efforts are underway in a remote part of northern Manitoba for a missing Norwegian hiker who failed to arrive in York Factory on Friday. Steffen Skjottelvik, 29, set out on foot from Fort Severn, Ont., on July 25 with his two dogs, RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre confirmed Monday. Skjottelvik planned to trek roughly 300 kilometres northwest to York Factory along the Hayes River. Skjottelvik's last known contact came Thursday, about 20 kilometres outside of York Factory, but he never reached his destination. He has not been seen or heard from since. VIJUD KIRUBAKARAN LINCOLN / FACEBOOK Norwegian hiker Steffen Skjottelvik is seen in an Aug. 13 photo near York Factory. Small-scale searches took place over the weekend, as the rugged and isolated terrain prevents a larger operation, Manaigre said. Help was requested from the Canadian Rangers, but the request was declined. Assisting in the search are: a Gillam-based RCMP officer, who deployed a drone with thermal imaging expected to fly Monday night, Manitoba Conservation, and local volunteers —including a guide with extensive knowledge of the area and river. 'Just the logistics behind this is insane,' Manaigre said, citing the remoteness of the region and the inability to find nearby fuel, or even a suitable landing spot for helicopters. Manaigre noted the region is home to both polar bears and wolves, and residents are advised to carry shotguns for protection. Some in the community fear Skjottelvik and his dogs may have been swept away by the Hayes River. 'One person said that the tide up there fluctuates four metres per day, in and out,' Manaigre said. 'That's almost 12 feet of water. According to the sergeant up there, it's the fastest-moving river in Canada. And the terrain is just bog. It's waist-deep.' On Monday, a Facebook post suggested that a thin husky resembling one of Skjottelvik's dogs had surfaced in the area. The animal had previously been thought to have been killed by wolves. 'There's a Facebook post circulating that maybe one of his dogs came (to York Factory), but we're not 100 per cent sure that's the dog,' Manaigre said. In a Facebook update on July 18, Skjottelvik said he had come across polar bears during his journey. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'I have seen belugas for the first time and had seven encounters with polar bears. Wonder if I can avoid the bears if I travel more inland?' Skjottelvik called the trek 'intense' and said he had to scare off several bears who got too close. On another Facebook page, Steffen's Great Canadian Journey, it was outlined that Skjottelvik intended to cross some of the country's most demanding northern landscapes, travelling from James Bay to Nome, Alaska, over a period of three to five years beginning in 2023. Skjottelvik is said to be an experienced wilderness traveller, according to information Mounties received. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hamilton Spectator
09-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Missing man in Kuujjuaq may have been ‘victim of a criminal act,' police say
After 17 days of searching by Nunavik police officers, Canadian Rangers and volunteers, the search for Sanaak Unatweenuk, a missing man in Kuujjuaq, has been turned over to Quebec's provincial police as a 'criminal matter.' 'Based on new developments within the investigation, the case is now being treated as a criminal matter,' Nunavik Police Service said in a news release Tuesday regarding the 31-year-old Unatweenuk, who was last seen on the night of June 20 as he was leaving the Kuujjuaq Inn. In an email to Nunatsiaq News on Tuesday, deputy Chief Shaun Longstreet declined to comment further on the new development because the Sûreté du Québec has taken over the investigation Unatweenuk is described as an Inuk man, approximately five-foot-six or five-foot-seven and weighing about 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black cap and black jacket with the words 'Solidarity Co-op' on it. Nunavik police began their investigation June 24 after receiving a report that Unatweenuk had not shown up at work. The investigation so far has revealed the 'missing person may have been the victim of a criminal act,' said Nancy Fournier, spokesperson for Sûreté du Québec, in an email Tuesday. Fournier did not specify if the case is being treated as a possible homicide and offered no further comment. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
National Post
02-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Why new Canadian ranger rifles are bleeding red dye
Canadian Rangers who use their new rifles in the rain are finding their hands covered in red dye because the stocks on the weapons can't handle moisture, according to newly released military records. Article content The problem was discovered in May 2018 as the new C-19 rifles were initially being distributed to Canadian Ranger units as part of a $32.8-million contract with Colt Canada. The .308 C-19, which is equipped with a red stock, replaced the Lee Enfield .303 rifle that had been used by Canadian Rangers since 1947. Article content Article content Under the contract, the new rifles were required to withstand extremely cold temperatures in the Arctic as well as moderate-to-high humidity in the coastal and forested regions of the country. Article content Article content 'Obviously from a health and safety perspective having dye released onto the skin is not a good situation,' Arthur Hall, who is with the Department of National Defence's small arms program, noted in a May 9, 2018 email regarding the C-19. Article content Further complaints continued to come in from Ranger units who also found the stocks were cracking. Article content 'The issue is that when exposed to moisture the red dye in the stock will run, and will discolour the hands of the user,' Luke Foster of the Directorate of Soldier Systems Program Management, pointed out in a July 3, 2018 email. 'This is also an indication that the stocks are not properly protected from the elements.' Article content One report from an officer assigned to the Rangers noted he took his new rifle outside in the rain for only five minutes before returning indoors. Once back inside he noticed the weapon was dripping red dye. 'I held the weapon for approximately 5-10 mins and it stated to stain my hand,' Captain T.M. Collier wrote in a May 9, 2018 email. Article content Article content The documents, acquired by the Ottawa Citizen, were released under the Access to Information Act. Article content Article content Department of National Defence officials, however, say it will be up to taxpayers to cover the costs of replacing the stocks on the 6,800 new rifles. That cost is estimated to be up to $10 million. Article content Tétreault also noted that the issue 'only became apparent and reported after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock. This was not observed during Initial Operational Capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries.'
CBC
13-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Rifles issued to Canadian Rangers in the Arctic need replacements, don't work in the cold
Rifles issued to the Canadian Rangers in Canada's Arctic don't work properly in the cold — and it's going to cost millions to fix. C-19 rifles were distributed to the Rangers, who serve the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, in 2017. Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) told CBC News in an email that extreme cold led to the stocks — a part of a gun attached to the barrel and firing mechanism that provides structural support — expanding and contracting. Something the department said Rangers noticed during testing in 2019. "Following reports from Canadian Rangers after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock," Alex Tétreault, a senior communications adviser with DND, wrote. "This was not observed during initial operational capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries." Those stocks now need to be replaced and the department estimates that will cost between eight to $10 million. The department said the C-19 rifle "remains an effective and accurate weapon" and that some of the rifles are still working properly and don't need replacements. The procurement process for the new stocks is underway and the delivery of the new stocks will be phased over three years.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rifles issued to Canadian Rangers in the Arctic need replacements, don't work in the cold
Rifles issued to the Canadian Rangers in Canada's Arctic don't work properly in the cold — and it's going to cost millions to fix. C-19 rifles were distributed to the Rangers, who serve the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, in 2017. Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) told CBC News in an email that extreme cold led to the stocks — a part of a gun attached to the barrel and firing mechanism that provides structural support — expanding and contracting. Something the department said Rangers noticed during testing in 2019. "Following reports from Canadian Rangers after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock," Alex Tétreault, a senior communications adviser with DND, wrote. "This was not observed during initial operational capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries." Those stocks now need to be replaced and the department estimates that will cost between eight to $10 million. The department said the C-19 rifle "remains an effective and accurate weapon" and that some of the rifles are still working properly and don't need replacements. The procurement process for the new stocks is underway and the delivery of the new stocks will be phased over three years.
