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Each year, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul organizes a shipment to Ulukhaktok, an Inuvialuit hamlet on Victoria Island in the Beaufort Sea. This community is known for its breathtaking landscape, rich cultural traditions, and world‑renowned Inuit art. But it also faces one of the highest costs of living in Canada. Because of its remote location and limited transportation access, food costs four to five times as much as in Edmonton.

Linda Tutt, the organizer of the shipment, writes,

"In September 2024, I visited Ulukhaktok for the third time. My husband and I saw firsthand the impact of what the North of 60 Project sends. We spent time at the food bank, hosted a free shopping afternoon for fabrics and sewing machines, distributed children’s clothing, and joined residents as they warmly welcomed a Northwest Passage cruise ship, and shared incredible cultural pride.

Ulukhaktok's Anglican Church is the only active church, and although it needs windows and repairs, it is still used for weddings, baptisms, and funerals.  My friend, David Kuptana, is the lay minister there. Since 2023, water levels on the Mackenzie River have been too low for the barge that once carried shipments from Hay River to Tuktoyaktuk. Now, every sea container must be trucked from Edmonton all the way to Tuktoyaktuk — a change that has quadrupled shipping costs. From Tuktoyaktuk, the containers are loaded onto an ocean barge that crosses the Arctic Ocean/ Beaufort Sea, arriving in Ulukhaktok.

Whatever isn’t on that once-a-year ocean barge must be flown in at enormous cost. This applies not only to North of 60 Project's food bank supplies, but to construction materials, vehicles, groceries — everything the community will rely on for the entire year.

There is a high-energy appeal happening now across the Edmonton region, so volunteers can get donations and pack the goods into the sea cans for early to mid-May.  Our focus is on Food Bank support, but SSVP also sends other items to support the school, recreation, sewing groups, etc.  

We appreciate any help to cover the costs of food, the shipping container, and shipping."

For information on how to donate, please see the POSTER.