Article content continued

1/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enjoys some bannock at a street party after announcing to the residents the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 2/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets a crowd after announcing the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 3/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces to the residents the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 4/30 Patricia Kandiurin burns an OmniTrax banner at a street party celebrating the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 5/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets a crowd after announcing the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 6/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets a crowd after announcing the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 7/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receives some slippers from the town of Churchill after announcing the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 8/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets a crowd after announcing the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 9/30 Manitoba Grand Chief Arland Dumas and Murad Al-Katib, President of Arctic Gateway speak to each other as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 10/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waves to a crowd from a "Tundra Buggy" after announcing the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 11/30 Inuit elders listen as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 12/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 13/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 14/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 15/30 Churchill Mayor Mike Spence speaks to a crowd in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 16/30 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 17/30 Arland Dumas, Grand Chief of Manitoba, speaks to a crowd in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 18/30 Arland Dumas, Grand Chief of Manitoba, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embrace after announcing the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 19/30 Murad Al-Katib, President of Arctic Gateway, speaks to a crowd in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 20/30 Churchill Mayor Mike Spence speaks to a crowd in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 21/30 Arland Dumas, Grand Chief of Manitoba, speaks to a crowd in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 22/30 The first train in 18 months to arrive on a repaired line is photographed in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 23/30 The first train in 18 months to arrive on a repaired line is photographed in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 24/30 The first train in 1 months to arrive on a repaired line is photographed in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 25/30 The first train in 18 months to arrive on a repaired line is photographed in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 26/30 The first train in 18 months to arrive on a repaired line is photographed in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 27/30 The first train in 18 months to arrive on a repaired line is photographed in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 28/30 The first train in 18 months to arrive on a repaired line is photographed in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 29/30 The first train in 18 months to arrive on a repaired line is photographed in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods 30/30 Patricia Kandiurin burns an OmniTrax banner at a street party celebrating the opening of the repaired railway in Churchill, Manitoba Thursday, November 1, 2018. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Churchill today to announce the opening of the railway and the Port of Churchill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Previous Image Next Image

During the time the line was washed out goods and people had to be flown into Churchill and prices for groceries and fuel skyrocketed. The tourist economy in what’s known as the polar bear capital of the world was hit hard and some people left town.

The federal government provided $74 million to help buy and fix the railroad, along with the town’s port.

Trudeau said Omnitrax showed no interest in repairing the line, so it was important to shift ownership to the community and to those who shared a similar vision for the North.

The assets were bought by the Arctic Gateway Group — a partnership between several First Nations communities, Fairfax Financial Holdings in Toronto and Regina-based AGT Food.

The federal government has promised $43 million over 10 years to subsidize operations on top of the $74-million.

“With this new deal, Churchill will have full control over its future,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau was greeted at the celebratory party by a few hundred people singing ’O Canada.’

He thanked the people for their patience and said the wait is finally over — rail service will be back to normal by the end of the month.

“This is your victory,” he said. “I know times have been incredibly tough but the resilience and determination you have shown has been inspiring.”

As the first train announced its arrival with a blow of its horn, children gave up trick-or-treating and families left the warmth of their homes to greet it.

Valerie Schweder’s daughter Jada told her she heard the sound, but initially she didn’t believe it.