Military to conduct live-fire mortar training Sunday near Resolute Bay

NEWS SEP 2, 2026 – 2:30 PM EDT Military to conduct live-fire mortar training Sunday near Resolute Bay Exercises carried out as part of Operation Nanook-Nunakput Members of 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, position a M777 Howitzer into place just outside Cambridge Bay during Operation Nanook-Nunalivut on Feb. 19. (Photo by Master Cpl. Sarah Morley, Imagery Technician, 4th Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa) By Lilli Akpaleeapik The military plans to conduct live-fire exercises Sunday on Little Cornwallis Island, northwest of Resolute Bay. The Canadian Armed Forces released a public service announcement about the exercises on Wednesday, advising the Royal Canadian Regiment’s 3rd battalion mortar platoon will be on site as part of Operation Nanook-Nunakput. The platoon will set up a live fire mortar range to “verify the effectiveness of smoke screens” in the Arctic. Military mortar weapons are lightweight, portable muzzle-loaded cannons that can fire ballistic weapons in high-arch trajectories. The exercise is also meant to demonstrate “joint projection capabilities,” the announcement said, which refers to the use of multiple assets such as coast guard or Navy in operations or exercise. “Live-fire training enhances [military] personnel readiness and familiarity with Arctic conditions,” said the announcement. Once the exercise is complete, the military assured the public it will do a “comprehensive environmental cleanup” and ensure all unexploded munitions are removed from the site. Operation Nanook-Nunakput is an annual High Arctic military training exercise that typically runs in the late summer. This year’s exercises are scheduled to end Sept. 25. SHARE THIS STORY Facebook Twitter Instagram