Near perfect Fog Bow spotted in IgloolikWednesday, June 11. 2008 Adventure Canada staffer, John MacDonald, sent in this image of a near perfect fogbow seen from the hamlet of Igloolik. A fogbow is similar to a rainbow, but because of the very small size of water droplets that cause fog, the fogbow has no colors and appears white. Fogbows are sometimes called "white rainbows" or "cloudbows". Mariners sometimes call them "sea-dogs." When a fogbow appears at night it is called a Lunar Fogbow. For programming in Igloolik please click here. Nunatsiavut Artist CelebratedWednesday, June 11. 2008 In 2008, The Rooms in St. John's features an extensive body of work by the noted photographer JamesAnderson. The collection documents over fifty years of community life in and around Makkovik, Labrador. The stories that accompany "Uncle Jim's" work explain why for over half a century he has never been without a camera. Anderson's collection has been called the "largest collection of photographs from a single community in Canada" (Sam Kula - Archival Consultant). It represents a remarkable record of community and family life in Labrador that will be passed on for generations. Anderson, now aged 89, still enjoys photography and capturing the special moments in the every day. The exhibit runs through the 24th of August. For more information on the exhibit please visit www.therooms.ca On our Wild Labrador program we plan to visit a number of the coastal communities learning about life ways and traditions of Labradorians people. For more information please click here. Baffin Narwhal Population StableWednesday, June 11. 2008 Often referred to as the unicorns of the sea, Narwhals are one of themost elusive of all Arctic species. The whales are characterized by a single spiraled tusk extending six to nine feet, emerging from the upper jaw and through the lips of adult males. Some females may exhibit a tusk and, in rare instances, a male with two tusks has been observed. The narwhal tooth has found its way into the books of scientific rarities and mythical tales and for centuries has inspired legend and lore. So prized was the fabled tooth of the unicorn that Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century paid 10,000 pounds for one, equivalent to the cost of an entire castle. The tooth is revered by many cultures around the world. In Japan, two crossed narwhal teeth adorn the entrance to the Korninkaku Palace. In Denmark multiple teeth comprise the frame. The royal scepter in England is made from the rare tusk. Recent research indicates that the Baffin Bay narwhal population is well over 50,000 individuals, with a mean estimated population of 66,000. The Baffin Bay population ranged from Qiqiktarjuaq to at Prince Regent Inlet and the Gulf of Boothia. This does not cover the entire range of the species in the High Arctic and it is reasonable to think that the mean estimate could in fact exceed 80,000. Research in these higher latitude regions is ongoing. This is positive news on the state of that population. Nevertheless, a recent paper senior authored by Kristin Laidre suggests that the narwhal is one of the arctic species most vulnerable to the long term effects of global warming because of its reliance on a sea ice habitat in winter. Despite their large population, narwhals are not always seen because they tend to either move well up the bays and fiords of Baffin Island or to seek the remaining pack ice in passages of the Arctic archipelago. Also, narwhals are shy creatures that tend to avoid small boats and large vessels alike. Nevertheless, they have been seen by Adventure Canada passengers and staff on past expeditions. We will be travelling in known narwhal habitat on our High Arctic and Baffin Expeditions this year. Ask our marine biologists about them and keep a watchful eye for them from the observation decks. For more information on the Baffin Expedition please click here For more information on the High Arctic Adventure please click here Birding in the Codroy ValleyWednesday, June 11. 2008 For the past several years, Adventure Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) have partnered to bring visitors to the lush and beautiful Codroy Valley in southwest Newfoundland. Participants in Adventure Canada's Circumnavigation of the Island of Newfoundland have been treated to the outstanding hospitality of Codroy's residents. The Nature Conservancy of Canada has been active in the valley since 1994 and has acquired 15 properties in that time. In May, 2008, NCC offered a one-day introductory course on bird identification to residents of the valley. Initially, only 12 student seats were available. However, the interest was so high that the course was expanded to 16 seats (and still people were turned away). The students were, one and all, interested and enthusiastic and are looking forward to the fall visit of Adventure Canada so they can show off their new skills to the cruise passengers. For more information, please read the article posted on the NCC website. To find out more about visiting the Codroy Valley on our Newfoundland Circumnavigation please click here. Paging Dr. LishmanWednesday, June 11. 2008 On June 6th, 2008, long-time Adventure Canada friend and staff member Bill Lishman was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws by the Ontario Institute of Technology for his contributions to his profession and community. Bill is an award winning sculptor, filmmaker, inventor and naturalist. He is co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Operation Migration, a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing safe migration routes for migratory birds. In 2000, William received the Meritorious Service Medal for his pioneering work with migratory birds. The 1996 Oscar-nominated film Fly Away Home was inspired by his life story. Congratulations Dr. Bill! For more information on the ceremony click here. To watch the convocation ceremony click here. Bill is joining Adventure Canada on the 2008 Newfoundland Circumnavigation. For more information Click here. Congratulations Aaju!Wednesday, June 11. 2008 Adventure Canada staff member and Inuit culturalist Aaju Peter recently passed her bar exam in Iqaluit.Aaju was a graduate from Canada's first Arctic law school. Aaju received a University of Victoria law degree in a special ceremony in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Eleven students earned their degrees through a unique program offered in the territory by UVic's faculty of law in partnership with the Akitsiraq Law School Society and Nunavut Arctic College. On June 20, she will officially be called to the Nunavut Bar as a lawyer. Congratulations Aaju - we know how hard you've been working these past few years! Aaju is travelling with Adventure Canada in 2008 on our Baffin and Walrus Expeditions. For more information on the Baffin Expedition please Click here. Celtic Quest SeriesWednesday, June 11. 2008 Many of us here at Adventure Canada can trace our routes back to the Celticpeoples of Western Europe. Company director, Matthew Swan, designed our first Celtic Quest in 1995 in hopes of gaining greater insight into his Scottish heritage and the wild landscape that so shaped the lives of its coastal peoples. Since that time Adventure Canada has returned to Scotland and set out to explore the other Celtic nations: Ireland, Wales, Brittany, the Isle of Man, Cornwall and the Iberian Peninsula. In 2009 we are thrilled to present our Celtic Series: Spain to Scotland and Scotland Slowly. Taken as one extended learning holiday or as two separate legs we will explore the rich regional traditions and the ties that unify; language, music, migration, ancestry and maybe even ale! Onboard the luxurious ninety-four passenger MS Andrea we take the road less travelled, visiting small island communities, wild islands, and important historical and archaeological sites including highlight excursions to the sacred pilgrimages of Santiago de Compostela and Iona. Booking for this trip begins on July 2nd, 2008 For more information on our Celtic Quest Series please click here Gros Morne WonderThursday, June 5. 2008 Visit one of the forerunners in the new Seven Wonders of Nature contest. Gros Morne National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its scientific attributes combined with unrivaled natural beauty. Table Mountain is an elevated flatland of rust colored rocks that represent 500 million year old deep mantle, now transported upon shallow water limestone; Green Point has thin layered limestone and shale chosen as a world geologic time line, and Western Brook Pond is a spectacular inland fiord. View the candidates and cast your vote at www.n7w.com. On our 2008 Newfoundland Circumnavigation we explore the tablelands and weather permitting Western Brook Pond. For more info on our Newfoundland Circumnavigation click here: Bowhead Whale UpdateThursday, June 5. 2008 Recent studies have revealed that the bowhead whale population of the eastern Canadian Arctic is higher than the previously believed. The range of probable estimates for the eastern bowhead is presently 4,811-43,105, with a mean estimate of 14,400. While the range is quite large and exact figures still unknown, the numbers are higher than previously thought and this is good news for the population. Past estimates put the population at only a few hundred. The reason for the larger numbers is in part due to surveys of new areas which were not known until recently to have large numbers of bowhead whales. Tracking with satellite-linked transmitters has been very helpful in determining the wider range of occupation. We are looking forward to travelling in bowhead whale territory this summer and hope to have the great fortune and privilege of spending time amongst them. Over the past four years we have been very blessed indeed with viewings of pods as large as sixty and last year spotting a rare albino bowhead whale. In 2008 we travel with bowhead expert Pierre Richard on our High Arctic Adventure who will share with us his knowledge of the bowhead whale and be glued to his spotting scope in hopes of sharing these great beasts with us. For more information on our High Arctic Adventure Michael CrummeyThursday, June 5. 2008 We are delighted to have awarding winning author and poet Michael Crummey join our team of wonderful resource people on our 2008 Newfoundland Circumnavigation. Throughout our journey Michael will share selected readings and his insights into the Newfoundland literary scene. Michael was born and raised in Newfoundland. He has published half a dozen books, including Hard Light and Salvage (poetry), Flesh and Blood (short stories) and two novels. His first novel, River Thieves, was a national bestseller and appeared on half a dozen award shortlists, including the Giller Prize. His most recent book is The Wreckage, published in 2005. A national bestseller, it was short-listed for the Rogers' Writer's Trust Fiction Prize and was long-listed for the Dublin IMPAC Literary Award. His work has appeared in The Penguin Book of Canadian Short Stories and in The New Canon: An Anthology of Canadian Poetry. He was recently named the winner of the Timothy Findley Award, given to a Canadian writer at mid-career to honour a significant body of work. He lives in St. John's. For more information on our Newfoundland Circumnavigation please click here. |
CategoriesQuicksearchArchivesSyndicate This BlogBlog Administration |
