Military training exercises have started near Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories, as part of a program that will run through Feb. 27, 2026. The Canadian Armed Forces, under Joint Task Force North, began these exercises on Feb. 10, 2026.
Local residents may notice more uniformed personnel and military vehicles on the ground, along with planes and helicopters flying at low altitudes. The activity is part of Operation NANOOK (winter phase), a recurring northern exercise used to practise search-and-rescue and cold-weather operations.
Joint Task Force North said in a Feb. 2026 public notice that residents are likely to see increased military air and ground traffic but that the exercises are not expected to cause disruptions to daily life. The training is intended to keep personnel ready for operations in remote northern environments.
The exercises involve transport aircraft and patrols using light over-snow vehicles (such as snowmobiles). Military members have indicated they are coordinating with the Tłı̨chǫ Government to minimise impacts on local activities and traditional land use.
