Around the first of December I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days in Coral Harbour. Coral Harbour is a hamlet 730 KMs west of Iqaluit on the southern end of Southhampton Island. The population is about 850 people.
The history of Coral Harbour goes back many centuries when the Island was populated by the Sallirmiut people, who are believed to have been the last of the Thule Inuit in the Arctic. The Sallirmiut were well known for their short stature, unbelievable strength, different hairstyles, and their unique language. Tragically, they died from an epidemic, the deadly typhus disease, carried by the Scottish whalers in 1902.
Contemporay history began in 1925, when the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post at the present site of Coral Harbour by combining secondary posts from Chesterfield Inlet and Coats Island.
Just outside Coral Harbour, an American military air base was built in 1941 as a staging point for aircraft being ferried to Europe during World War II.
The site later became a military training area, then a weather observation point, before becoming the current municipal airport.
During the 1950's and 1960's, the Government of Canada increased its presence by building a: school in 1955, a nursing station in 1963, and other government buildings and houses ever since.
Coral Harbour is also known for abundant wildlife. The waters in the Harbour attract seals, whales and Walrus.
I spent 3 days at the local housing office visiting clients. The people I met in Coral Harbour are hard workers and love living in this wonderful little Hamlet.
I enjoyed my 3 days in Coral Harbour and look forward to visiting in the summer and getting to see some of the plentiful wildlife in the area. Thanks Coral Harbour for the hospitality.
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