I was watching W5 a Canadian news program yesterday that featured leg 9 of the Canada C3 expedition. The Polar Prince is a former Canadian Coast Guard research ice breaker. It was an epic journey to Celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. A 150 day sailing journey from Toronto to Victoria via the Northwest Passage covered 23,000 KM's, 3 oceans and 3 coastlines. If you didn't see it, try to find it on the CTV website. They carried a variety of people including scientists, artists, Indigenous Elders, historians, community leaders, youth, journalists and educators.
They talked about satellite communication in the north. The gentleman that fitted the ship with broadband satellite communication was on board. The ship had better communication than the communities they visited. He explained how instantly they can communication with the world. The Franklin Expedition was lost for two years before word got back to Europe! We've come a long way since the Franklin Expedition.
The Vancouver Sun had an article in yesterday's newspaper. The Polar Prince is on it's way down the west coast with stops in Powell River last Friday and will be coming to Vancouver tomorrow! The expedition will end in Victoria on October 28. The W5 production only covered one leg of the actual North West Passage and some of the remote northern communities. I hope there is a documentary made of the entire trip as it sounds fascinating!
Tomorrow the Polar Prince will dock at 0800 at Canada Place and not sail out until late Tuesday. The port authority will facilitate presentations within the Port of Vancouver Discovery Center to various stakeholders and media. Public presentations will occur within the Port of Vancouver's Discovery Centre on October 23 & 24, along with presentations to local elementary school groups, ranging from grades 4 - 6. Visit the Discovery Center at 2 PM for a presentation by Canada C3 Expedition Leader Geoff Green. The Port of Vancouver Discovery Center is located inside Canada Place. There is an event for children tomorrow at the Vancouver Aquarium from 6:30 - 8:30 featuring Canada C3 expedition leader, Geoff Green and leg 15 participants.
What a fantastic experience! Check out the pictures on their Facebook Page:
Canada C3 Ship t'Shore Show
