Interview with Virginia Mearns, New Senior Arctic Official for Canada

What elements of your work with the Arctic Council are you most looking forward to?

What I'm most looking forward to is connecting with northerners and Arctic Peoples from across the Arctic nations. I've had the privilege of being able to visit a lot of the Canadian north, and I'm really excited to be able to engage with our Indigenous communities here in Canada, but also with Indigenous communities in the other Arctic States as well. I think there's a lot that we can do by connecting and comparing our realities, and in sharing best practices and really strengthening and solidifying that relationship amongst our Peoples.

What are your priorities as Canada's Senior Arctic Official?

It's multi-faceted, having this unique portfolio as Senior Arctic Official and also Canada's Ambassador to the Arctic as highlighted in Canada's Arctic Foreign Policy. It touches upon many facets of our reality and I'm really looking forward to taking the opportunity to integrate the human dimension into the Council's work. Not to say that the human dimension has not been there before, but because there's such an interest and emphasis on activity in the Arctic, I feel a strong responsibility to ensure that the human component remains in the forefront of all of our discussions. Whether it is regarding economic development, cultural development, environmental protection - these are all components and discussions where we need to ensure our community members are in the forefront, because they're the first to be affected by the decisions and direction our work goes in.

What is one of your most memorable Arctic moments?

Living in Iqaluit and traveling to different communities, even within Canada, has always been an exciting opportunity for me. I very much look forward to continuing that. Also being on the land with my family. Some of my fondest childhood memories are camping with family, and that has continued into current day. Being able to take my children out on the land and having that connection, whether it's at our cabin or if it's for spring fishing, it's a very special opportunity that not many get to call a part of their normal day. So, traveling and also being at home on the land with my family, I would say, my two favorite components.