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July/August 2012 issue

Table of Contents Caving How far would you walk? Street-level solution Q&A with MissPixels Path of the paddle Northwest Passage trailblazer Getting an underwater grip B.C.'s forestry future 50 years in space Largest radio telescope Chickens don't cry wolf Mosaic The Inside Story Editor’s Notebook Book Reviews Reverberations ----------------------------------------------- Past issues archive Subject index Contributors index

Events
A polar legacy honoured

In the polar science community, Martin Bergmann (above) is a household name. As director of Canada’s Polar Continental Shelf Program (PCSP), he coordinated logistics for researchers working in the Canadian Arctic, managed a network of more than 1,600 landing sites for planes that criss-crossed the northern skies and doubled the size of the PCSP facility in Resolute Bay, Nunavut.

To many of those who attended the International Polar Year conference in Montréal in April, Bergmann, who was killed in a plane crash en route to Resolute Bay in August 2011, was the person who made their work possible. His contributions were honoured at the conference during a ceremony inaugurating the Martin Bergmann Medal, which recognizes extraordinary achievement in polar science and will be awarded annually. Sheila McRae accepted the medal on behalf of her late husband.

As director of the PCSP, Bergmann, 55, left a legacy that was embodied in the conference slogan, “From Knowledge to Action.” “I know of no one who was better at taking ideas, taking knowledge and making things happen than Marty,” said Peter Harrison, former vice-president of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and conference chairman, in an emotional speech to an audience of Bergmann’s family, friends and colleagues.

Harrison said he has witnessed first-hand how the PCSP facility provides everything from meals and accommodation to flights to and from Resolute Bay but noted that while the projects Bergmann coordinated throughout his career were important, his real legacy lies in the connections he forged. “You are a very special group of people,” he said. “You are 0.01 percent of the people who knew Marty. You are 0.01 percent of those whose lives he affected.”

To make a donation in Bergmann’s memory , visit www.cfo-fco.ca.

— Samia Madwar

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Events
Dino discourse

Paleontologist Philip Currie thrills the audience with his ground-breaking theory and stories about fossil hunting in Canada at the RCGS Speaker Series event in Gatineau, Que., on May 2. (Photo: Stephane Lauzon)

This crucial question, posed by an eager young dinosaur fan, was just one of the many queries world-renowned paleontologist Philip Currie (above) fielded at The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) Speaker Series event.

Currie’s May 2 lecture, “Dino Gangs,” entranced an audience gathered at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que., with stories of dinosaur fossil hunting in Canada and the clues that led to his groundbreaking theory: carnivorous dinosaurs, such as the T. rex, hunted in packs and were much more intelligent than previously thought.

After the lecture and an entertaining question-and-answer session (the T. rex beats the Spinosaurus hands down), Currie signed copies of Dino Gangs, a book about his theory that he co-authored with Josh Young.

“Dinosaur science has the unique ability to captivate us at any age,” says RCGS executive director André Préfontaine. “That’s why we were especially delighted that Dr. Currie, a Fellow of the Society, agreed to share his fascinating research with us. His compelling — and at times chilling — presentation definitely captured the imagination of everyone in the room.”

Currie will return to the same venue on Nov. 7 for the RCGS’s Annual College of Fellows Dinner, when actors Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon Aykroyd will present him with the RCGS Gold Medal.

— Michela Rosano

Events
Setting sail

Vast, glittering fiords, 500-year-old mummies, ethereal northern lights rippling across the night sky and a dash of Viking history are just some of the fascinating experiences passengers aboard the Clipper Adventurer will enjoy during Adventure Canada’s forthcoming Greenland and Wild Labrador trip.

The expedition, in association with Canadian Geographic, runs from Sept. 18 to Oct.1 and is unforgettable, according to one Adventure Canada employee. “I always get goosebumps remembering it,” says Sheryl Saint, who’s taken the trip three times. “Everywhere you look, there is something intriguing.”

After a stop in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, the ship will sail through the Davis Strait to Labrador, then south to Newfoundland. Once there, passengers will journey back in time and absorb the rich Viking history at L’Anse aux Meadows, the earliest European settlement in North America.

For more information on how to join the trip, visit www.adventurecanada.com/trip/greenland-wild-labrador-2.

— Kenza Moller

Education
With a little help from their friends

Jacob Burnley, from Nanaimo, B.C., placed second in this year’s Great Canadian Geography Challenge.

Jacob, a grade-9 student from Nanaimo, B.C., has been fascinated with world geography and map-making since childhood. This year, his hobby evolved into a prizewinning skill that earned him second place overall in the Geo Challenge. But he has had a little help along the way.

“Jacob has an unbelievably geographic mind,” says his father, Chris Burnley. “But in Nanaimo, there is no geography class until grade 12, just basic social studies, and some of the kids are way beyond the school curriculum early on.”

Recognizing the lack of opportunities for geographically literate students such as his son, Burnley teamed with École Hammond Bay School principal Francine John to form the school’s geography club in 2008. It’s been a success ever since, seeing 10 to 15 students give up their recess time to absorb as much geographic information as possible.

At Quluaq School in Clyde River, Nunavut, students such as Gregory Joanas have little exposure to global geography, but they also face an even bigger barrier — language. Teacher Jennifer McGee got Gregory and other students involved in the Geo Challenge to give them a chance to learn more about the world. But for some, the language barrier proved too much of a challenge, and they lost interest early on. Others, however, excelled immediately, including Gregory. “Gregory has a naturally inquisitive mind,” says McGee, “and an unrivalled appetite for knowledge.”

To help Gregory and the remaining students prepare, McGee gathered questions from previous Geo Challenge competitions. Her aim was to familiarize the students with some cultural and language differences that often require further explanation before the question can be fully understood. The tactic helped, and Gregory was eventually named the territorial winner.

“He has brought a lot of pride to the school and the community,” says McGee. “I think this has given him the confidence to compete in the future.”

To see whether you can match Jacob and Gregory’s geographic knowledge, visit www.geochallenge.ca.

— Jessica Harding

Awards
Going above and beyond for geography

Individuals who take geographic literacy to the next level will soon be recognized, as nominations for this year’s Geographic Literacy Award are now open.

The prize is awarded annually by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and recognizes individuals who work beyond the expectation of their professions to instill a fascination of geography in Canadian students.

Nominations for this year’s recipient will be accepted until Aug 1. For more information, visit www.rcgs.org/awards/geographic_literacy/nominations.asp.

— Kenza Moller

Awards
Environmental innovation

Groundbreaking environmentalists in your community can get the recognition they deserve, as nominations for the 2012 Canadian Award for Environmental Innovation are now being accepted.

The award, established in 2009 by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and 3M Canada, recognizes individuals who enact positive changes through their environmental work.

Nominees should be actively engaged in projects or other community-supported efforts with sustainable, ethical and economical foundations and an ultimate goal of bettering the environment.

Nominations must be made by a third party and must be received by 2 p.m., EST, on Aug. 31, 2012.

For more information, visit www.rcgs.org/awards/environmental_innovation.

— Jesse Tahirali

Fellows
RCGS by-laws

Fellows of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society are reminded to vote on the proposed changes to the Society’s bylaws this November at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The first draft of the amended bylaws was sent to Fellows for review and comment in the spring, and a revised draft was sent to the Board of Governors to be endorsed in June. After approval by the board, the proposed amendments will be put to the Fellows for approval at the AGM.

— Jesse Tahirali

Education
Eyes on the North

It’s a busy year of exploration in the Canadian North in 2012, with The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) supporting seven canoeing, hiking, skiing and mountaineering adventures in the region as part of its expeditions program.

The RCGS grants up to $5,000 to explorers whose expeditions will help Canadians better understand and appreciate the country’s vast and varied geography.

• Allen Macartney has spent seven years planning his 1,500-kilometre solo canoe trek down the Yukon River to retrace and photograph the Klondike gold rush trail used by tens of thousands of prospectors over a century ago.
• Education Through Expeditions founder Antony Jinman is leading his sevenman Arctic Jubilee Expedition to Barbeau Peak on the Queen Elizabeth Islands on skis to link Inuit schools in the area to other schools in Canada and the U.K.
• Bob Saunders’ four-person expedition group is paddling the final leg of the Agguanittuq Journey, a circle tour of the Low Arctic that began six years ago, collecting information for presentations for non-profit organizations.
• Documentary filmmaker and environmental and adventure writer Frank Wolf is part of a two-man team making the the journey between the Labrador Sea and Hudson Bay via canoe.
• Adventurer and aid worker Nicolas Peissel is heading a four-person team travelling by boat from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast through the never-before-completed northerly route of the Northwest Passage, documenting the trip through photography and film.
• Stefan Superina is part of a six-person team canoeing from Yellowknife, N.W.T, to Kugluktuk, Nunavut, to trace and share the history of aboriginal groups in the region.
• Steve Whittington and three other climbers attempted to reach the summit of Mount Saskatchewan in the Yukon’s Centennial Range in May but had to turn back after 13 days. Of the range’s 12 peaks, Mount Saskatchewan is the only one that has yet to be summited.

— Kenza Moller

Classroom Energy Diet Challenge
In for the win

St. Mark’s School’s grade 2/3 class proudly demonstrates some of the hard work that earned them the Elementary Grand Prize. (Photo: Ellen Curtis)

From St. Mark’s School in King’s Cove, N.L., to Sir William Osler School in Vancouver, members of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) and Shell Canada travelled across the country to celebrate the winners of the inaugural Classroom Energy Diet Challenge (CEDC).

“The students’ excitement was overwhelming,” says RCGS educational consultant Ellen Curtis. “They have become true advocates for environmental education, and their teachers can attest to that.” All six winning schools were visited, the students and teachers were congratulated, and a prize banner was awarded to each to display their energy-saving achievement.

The CEDC, a partnership between Canadian Geographic and Shell Canada, is an educational competition aimed at raising energy awareness in Canadian schools.

Registration for the second CEDC, which will begin in the winter of 2012, will be open in September. For more information on the 2012 winners and next year’s competition, visit energydiet.canadiangeographic.ca.

— Jesse Tahirali

Events
The war on the floor

Students and teachers interact with a giant floor map at Strathcona Public School in Kingston, Ont.

The nation’s birthday will mark the debut of Canadian Geographic’s War of 1812 giant floor map, designed to commemorate the historic conflict’s bicentennial. The map, which is approximately 10.7 metres by 7.9 metres (about the size of a school gymnasium), is designed to be walked over and includes features such as the era’s forts, historic towns, battle sites and First Nations villages, as well as trails that British, American and aboriginal troops used.

A first for The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the map was developed to create an interactive learning environment and further encourage students to explore Canada through geography.

Starting in the fall, five of the War of 1812 maps will travel the country and be available for Canadian educators to book for their schools for a two-week period, free of charge.

— Michela Rosano

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