Life in the Field: Stories from Canada’s Remote Winter Highways
The Northern Calling Working in Canada’s North is a unique experience. For over two decades, I’ve been building and maintaining ice roads, constructing winter highways, and ensuring that remote communities have access to essential supplies. These frozen routes are lifelines, connecting towns, mines, and energy projects to the outside world. Life in the field is […]
Balancing Development and Environmental Stewardship in the North
The Challenges of Northern Development Working in northern Canada has been both an incredible opportunity and a profound responsibility. Over more than 20 years as an ice road engineer and Arctic infrastructure specialist, I’ve seen firsthand how development can transform communities, create jobs, and improve access to essential resources. At the same time, I’ve witnessed […]
Innovations in Arctic Supply Chains: Beyond Ice Roads
By Douglas Kuluk The Limits of Traditional Ice Roads For decades, ice roads have been the backbone of transportation in Canada’s North. Each winter, frozen lakes and rivers become highways, connecting remote communities to essential supplies and industries to markets. As an ice road engineer, I’ve spent over 20 years designing and maintaining these critical […]
The Economic Impact of Seasonal Roads on Remote Communities
By Douglas Kuluk Lifelines to the North In northern Canada, communities are often isolated by hundreds of kilometers of wilderness, lakes, and rivers. Seasonal ice roads and other temporary transportation routes are not just conveniences—they are lifelines. They connect remote towns to food, fuel, medical supplies, and economic opportunities that would otherwise be out of […]
Blending Indigenous Knowledge with Modern Engineering in Arctic Infrastructure
By Douglas Kuluk A Shared Foundation When people think of engineering, they often picture blueprints, computer models, and construction equipment. While those are certainly part of my daily work, the truth is that engineering in the Arctic is as much about listening as it is about designing. For decades, northern communities have survived and thrived […]
The Future of Ice Roads: Engineering Solutions in a Warming Climate
By Douglas Kuluk The Changing North For most people, a road is just a road. But for those of us living and working in Canada’s North, an ice road is a lifeline. These frozen highways connect remote communities, supply mining operations, and deliver food, fuel, and medicine that would otherwise be impossible—or extremely costly—to transport. […]