COVID-19 impacts on POLAR operations and programming

Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) continues to monitor the evolution of COVID-19 and adjust its operations and program delivery accordingly to meet public health guidelines. POLAR’s top priority has been and remains the health and safety of staff, elders and community members in Cambridge Bay, and collaborators across Canada.

At present, following public health guidelines, the CHARS campus is currently open to employees and is assessing possibilities for reopening to visitors. POLAR staff in Cambridge Bay and Ottawa continue to advance core research and engagement activities while working towards the resumption of external research support services. It is anticipated that areas of the Campus may begin to reopen to visiting researchers in 2021 as public health advisories and travel restrictions permit.

It is under these circumstances that POLAR is cautiously preparing for the restart of research operations at the CHARS campus in 2021. Working with local and regional health authorities, POLAR is taking initial steps to prepare for potential northern research and engagement activity in 2021. This includes:

• Research Support at CHARS campus. POLAR is now accepting applications for research support at the CHARS campus for the 2021 field season. A modified application schedule has been developed that will allow POLAR to be responsive to research needs and public health conditions throughout 2021. Please visit the Using the CHARS campus page on POLAR’s website for more details.

For all questions regarding the COVID-19 impacts on POLAR operations and planning, please contact us at info@polar-polaire.gc.ca.