Douglas Kuluk Urges Canadians to Prepare for a Future Beyond Ice Roads

Veteran Arctic engineer highlights climate challenges and calls for community-driven adaptation strategies
Douglas Kuluk, a Master Ice Road Engineer and Arctic Infrastructure Specialist, is raising awareness about the urgent need to adapt Canada's northern transportation systems to a warming climate. In a recent interview, Kuluk shared insights from his 20+ years of building and maintaining frozen roadways that connect remote communities.

"Ice is alive," Kuluk says. "It cracks, it shifts, and it speaks if you're willing to listen. But it's changing faster than ever, and we have to adapt with it."

A Shrinking Season

Seasonal ice roads are critical to nearly 70 percent of northern Manitoba's communities, providing access to food, medical supplies, and fuel. Yet warming winters have shortened the road season by several weeks in the last two decades, forcing trucks onto costlier alternatives like air transport. Studies show that without adaptation, transportation costs in remote communities could rise by 200-300 percent, driving up grocery and fuel prices for families already facing high living costs.

A Call for Action and Innovation

Kuluk advocates for a balance of traditional Indigenous knowledge and modern tools. Elders, he says, can "hear when the ice is breathing" while satellite imaging and ground-penetrating radar help engineers measure safety in real time. He also points to solutions like community-led monitoring networks and modular floating roadways as ways to extend access when frozen routes fail.

"Collaboration is the only way forward," he explains. "When local people have tools and training, they don't just wait for solutions-they become part of them."

What People Can Do

Kuluk stresses that adaptation isn't only the job of engineers and governments. Ordinary Canadians can play a role by:

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Staying informed about how northern supply chains impact national food and fuel costs.

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Supporting policies that fund resilient infrastructure and climate adaptation research.

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Listening to Indigenous voices, whose knowledge of land and ice is vital for future planning.

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Reducing emissions in daily life to help preserve fragile winter conditions that northern communities rely on.

"When you stand on the ice and hear it groan, you understand humility," Kuluk says. "We can't conquer the North-we have to work with it. And that means everyone has a part to play."

To read the full interview, visit the website here [https://ideamensch.com/douglas-kuluk/].

About Douglas Kuluk

Douglas Kuluk is a Master Ice Road Engineer and Arctic Infrastructure Specialist based in Manitoba, Canada. He has spent over two decades designing, maintaining, and innovating frozen road networks that sustain northern communities, resource development, and energy projects. He is also a lecturer and speaker on climate adaptation and Arctic engineering.

Contact:

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Website: https://www.douglaskulukengineer.com/

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