Good Morning America… from chilly Churchill, Manitoba

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This article was published 10/11/2022 (1040 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Michael Strahan traded the warmth of a New York network TV studio for Churchill’s frozen, snow-covered ground this week.

The Good Morning America personality and former NFL star travelled to northern Manitoba for a GMA segment on climate change’s effect on polar bears that aired Thursday.

“I just think he’s a really nice guy,” said Wapusk Adventures owner Dave Daley. “He’s just down to earth.”

Strahan showed up at the tour company Wednesday, ready to give dogsledding a shot.

“What an experience,” Strahan posted on social media Thursday, along with footage of him being pulled by a team of six dogs.

“Learning how to dog sled from an Indigenous owned and operated team that brought me into their own culture and love for the outdoors! Thank you all for showing me the way.”

The 15-year New York Giants defensive end and Pro Football Hall of Fame member was in Churchill with a crew from Polar Bears International, a Montana-based non-profit conservation organization.

Daley’s son Wyatt took Strahan on a two-kilometre trek, the pack led by Klegan and Solo — a three-year-old and his mom.

“We shared… with him, about our story and about our dogs, and how we raise our dogs,” Daley said. “I think he really appreciated it. He has a dog at home, too, so he shared that with us.”

Daley is Métis and, through his business, teaches tourists about the nation’s flag, its birth during the fur trade and its part in Canadian history. He was happy to share it with Strahan who, before moving to ABC’s longtime U.S. network morning ratings winner, spent four years as co-host — with Kelly Ripa — of Live! with Kelly and Michael.

“We really appreciated his visit,” Daley said, adding he wasn’t star-struck. Other celebrities, including model and actress Kate Upton have been aboard his dogsled. “People put their pants on one leg at a time like we all do.”

Strahan spent time on a Tundra Buggy observing polar bears and highlighted Polar Bears International’s work on his roughly seven-minute long Good Morning America segment.

He also paid a visit to the Tundra Pub, a popular local hangout.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com