Labrador City, Labrador 2020

It took me two days, three flights and about 4 delays to get into Labrador City, Labrador to work for 4 1/2 days. I arrived to a blasted cold runway with the wind howling and snow blowing all over as we waited shivering to get our suitcases off the plane. I wished I had not packed my hat and gloves in my suitcase. I was told the sun shines here almost all the time and it was sunny on and off for the rest of the day. I forgot my sunglasses for driving, I really could have used them.

The rental home for locum vets is lovely, much nicer than the apartment in the next town over in Wabush where I stayed at last time. Two separate apartments both with full kitchens which worked out well as I was to work with another veterinarian. As it turned out, she was not aware of this. I showed up at the house and I was not aware that she was leaving the next morning. Lots of surprises but none as surprising as the fact that she also lives in London, Ont not far from me. Small world. She has been working here two weeks on and two weeks off for a couple months now. The owner believes she will continue that schedule for a year but according to her, that is not going to happen. Communication is difficult. Just ask the staff.

I drove (walking was too cold but really not that far) to the only grocery store in town to stock up for the week having been told they were open til 10. Luckily I went right away as they closed at 6. Well the gluten free shipments have not arrived for a while and GF shelf was empty. Working here for only a week, I learned to ask if the shipments had arrived each day as they are delayed often. I might get gluten free food next week.

Monday morning I awoke to -34 before the windchill and it was howling outside. Then just about every day after that it was about the same with one balmy day of -24. So much for walking around the lake before work.

At the Clinic in the morning, I find out that both of the technicians are pregnant, due close to a week apart, in two months. This apparently is a cause of communication breakdown as there will no longer be a registered tech here after they are gone on maternity leave for over a year. Staffing a clinic is hard at the best of times but really hard way out in the wilds of Labrador especially if you are not a veterinarian hiring for the clinic. Vets that will work here are hard to find and apparently harder if no registered technician. Busy, busy all the time I was there, no time to think about cases until evening came, as long as no emergencies.

All cars are plugged in overnight, or if you are staff you forget and then cannot get to work as the darn car wont start. No Uber here. Driving through the town you cannot see any of the houses for the massive snow piles out front. They are calling for another 30 cm on friday, hopefully after my flight leaves! I am surprised at the number of very tiny dogs here, not sure how they handle the cold and snow, but the sale of indoor pee pads is likely very good.

Snow, snow everywhere, even in the thorax of dogs on xray!!