Jenna is a clinical pharmacist at Qikiqtani General Hospital and Chris is a pharmacist at Northmart Pharmacy in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
Where they’re working
In the depths of winter, an average day in Iqaluit could see temperatures as low as -50 with the windchill and four total hours of sunshine. Summer in the city feels like a warm Ontario fall day, and the air is dry and crisp. The city of about 7,800 people is surrounded by vast open tundra and the houses are bursts of colour against an often-snowy backdrop.
Chris and Jenna looked north and saw adventure, both personal and professional, and that drive to challenge themselves propelled them to Canada’s northernmost capital city.
“We saw the Northwest Company’s booth at a career fair in our last year of School,” says Chris. “We figured we’re young and able to travel, and we knew there would be interesting career opportunities up north.”
The couple, both locals from Waterloo Region, relocated shortly after graduation. The capital of Nunavut, Iqaluit can only be reached by plane and is a 3-hour flight north of Ottawa. The territory has only one hospital and many health centres located in the more northern communities.
Jenna is the only clinical pharmacist at the hospital, and she works with three pharmacy technicians. She balances various hospital projects with completing medication orders and answering drug info questions.
Meanwhile, at the community pharmacy Chris fills prescriptions for patients all over Baffin Island. His pharmacy serves communities as far away as Grise Fjord on the northern end of Baffin Bay. The scope of practice is limited, and the focus of the pharmacy is on dispensing and answering over-the-counter questions. The pharmacy is busy, some days filling over 1,000 prescriptions with only 2 pharmacists.
Whether at the hospital or in the community, problem-solving is key for Jenna and Chris. Iqaluit has a majority Inuit population, though people of all backgrounds live in the city. Interacting with different cultures is part of the learning experience for the couple. The language barrier plays a role in how they deliver care, and people in Iqaluit speak three different languages: Inuktitut, English and French.
Jenna and Chris have fallen in love with the city and plan on staying there for the long-term.
“Iqaluit feels more like home than Waterloo,” says Chris. “With COVID, we’ve been lucky, we don’t have to wear masks since there are no cases and we’ve done a lot of exploring. We bought an ATV and take it as far as we’re comfortable going out on the land. It’s beautiful and love it here.”
Alumni Answers
CV: I’ve come to appreciate how collaborative health-care is here. In Ontario, you get yelled at for the silliest things sometimes. Here we have a strong working relationship with other health care providers. Everyone plays fair and comes together to solve problems for a patient. We’re not worried about the business side as much and can instead focus on patient-care. Also, the patients are fantastic; they are respectful and polite. You don’t always get this in Ontario.
JJ: People in this community have been incredibly welcoming, and it is a beautiful place to explore. At work, everyone has been very patient and welcoming, and they are receptive to the ways that Chris and I are able to grow our roles and take on new opportunities.
UW: What are some challenges you’ve encountered?
CV: The language barrier can be a challenge. We have some elders that don’t speak any English. I’ve learned a few Inuktitut words, but most of the time there are family members there to translate for me. I’m learning more Inuktitut every day and someday I hope to be able to counsel a patient in Inuktitut.
Non-Pharm Fun
“Before COVID, we’d go to the local brewery, restaurants, the Legion and more,” says Jenna.
“We got our husky Rosie right before COVID, and we love taking her exploring,” adds Chris.
Interested in working in the north? Chris and Jenna are happy to answer questions about their experiences and you can reach them at cmvoss13@hotmail.com and jennaj_94@hotmail.com. You can also follow Rosie’s adventures on Instagram at @rosie_the_arctic_husky.
