Atlas Amplifier (Winter 2006): Atlas Revs Up - Atlas Van Lines

Atlas CanadaBringing Quality Serviceto Canada’s Far NorthAtlas Serves Underdeveloped TerritoryIt is extraordinary in size and beauty. It extends north andwest of Hudson Bay and above the tree line to the NorthPole. Its landscapes range from the flat muskeg of KivalliqRegion to the towering mountains and glacial fiords ofBaffin Island.This is Nunavut, the largest and least populous ofCanada’s provinces and territories. Twenty-six communitiesdot an expanse of nearly two million square kilometers.Goods must travel via plane or sealift. Businesses here facesome of the highest operating costs in the world.In recent years, the Nunavut Government has soughtto stimulate economic growth, working with the privatesector to attract investment. The effort includes theaggressive recruitment of teachers, doctors, nurses, socialworkers and others. New jobs are forming in mining,fishing, tourism, the arts and entertainment industries.In 2001, the Nunavut Government selected Atlas Canadaas its exclusive carrier. “We are able to bring the service theyneed with our President’s Gold Leaf move managementprogram,” says Joanne Lavictoire, Team Leader with AtlasCanada’s PGL move management services. “Since thecontract took effect, we manage the relocation of 250 to350 families for the government each year.”To prevent failed relocations, which are more likely whenpeople experience extreme cultural and environmentalchanges, the PGL service team makes sure each personcoming in gets the right kind of information.“Each of the communities is a little different,” says Joanne.“For example, some places don’t have banks, others don’thave taxis. We let people know what to expect so theywon’t suffer from culture shock.”Getting in and out of the territory is another challenge.Atlas coordinates transportation in partnership withFirst Air. “Most of the people we relocate, mainly teachersand nurses, are moving to an unfurnished residence,”says Atlas Canada Senior Vice President of OperationsPaul Leader. “To transport their furnishings requires adifferent approach.”Paul explains that Atlas relies on two agents whopossess the skills to prepare goods for a unique air-travelscenario. “We wrap everything in corrugated stock forprotection–the aircraft cannot accommodate crates, andthere is no practical way to ensure the return of padding,”says Paul. A small prop plane handles the final leg of flight,often landing on a gravel runway no longer than 600 feet.“If a bad storm moves in, we may have to wait three daysto get a plane in,” says Paul. “I tell people they shouldexpect a six-to-eight-week wait for delivery after theirgoods arrive for loading at the airport.”In addition to government relocations, Atlas servesemployees of NAV Canada, the country’s civil air navigationservices provider, and the RCMP, the national police force.Most of these assignments last two or three years, makingfor an active moving cycle. The swelling volume hasallowed Atlas agents in Nunavut, Arctic Express (8794) andInukshuk Enterprises (8944), to expand their operationswith additional warehouse space, equipment, and people.“The agents and employees of Atlas Canada areproud to be a partner in Nunavut’s progress,” says AtlasCanada President Doug Auld. “We share a determinedcommitment to bring Atlas’ quality services to thischallenging and promising frontier.”Nunavut's indigenouspeople are called“Inuit,” which means“the people” in thenative languageInuktitut. Inuithave been Arcticinhabitants forthousands of years.The Nunavut territoryencompasses 1.9million squarekilometers of landand water, makingit the fourth largestsubnational entityin the world. Itslandscape isalmost exclusivelyArctic tundra.20 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2006Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2006 21