December 9, 2004 OTTAWA -- Outdoor enthusiasts, Canadian history buffs and book-lovers gathered yesterday at the Canadian Museum of Nature for the release of A.P. Low's biography, Paddling the Boreal Forest: Rediscovering A.P. Low. The Honourable Larry Bagnell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), presided over the launch, hosted by NRCan's Earth Sciences Information Centre (ESIC) and supported by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). Albert Peter Low is a former director of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) who is best remembered for his detailed and accurate surveys of the Labrador Peninsula in 1894 and 1895, and his discovery of the vast iron ore deposits of the Labrador Trough. He later led the 1903-04 Canadian Government Expedition to Hudson Bay and the Arctic Islands. "It is important that we acknowledge the amazing achievements of Canada's early explorers and geologists," said Mr. Bagnell. "Low faced incredible hardship and challenges during his expeditions in order to map Canada's North and help establish Canadian sovereignty in much of the Eastern Arctic." For six weeks in 2002 and 2003, co-authors Max Finkelstein and James Stone retraced 1,000 kilometres of one of Low's epic voyages through northern Quebec, from Lac Naococane to James Bay. They used Low's reports and maps and many other materials preserved in the ESIC archives to chart their way through a maze of northern lakes and bogs, and to help retell the fascinating life story of the "Iron Man" geologist. ESIC recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. It traces its roots to November 1854 when the government of the time allocated funds to the GSC for the creation and maintenance of a museum and a library. Over the next century-and-a-half, the GSC Library evolved and spawned the libraries of the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. ESIC currently holds Canada's largest research collection in the earth sciences, with more than a million items, including books, journals, maps, images, databases and an expanding digital collection. NRCan's work in the earth sciences enhances our quality of life by contributing to knowledge, innovation and technology in the natural resources sectors, which are a vital part of Canada's economy and society. For more information on the ESIC, visit www.nrcan.gc.ca/ess/150th_e.html. For more information on the CPAWS, visit www.cpaws-ov.org. FOR BROADCAST USE: A new biography on A.P. Low, the "Iron Man" geologist, was launched yesterday. Yukon M.P. Larry Bagnell presided over the launch of Paddling the Boreal Forest during festivities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Natural Resources Canada's Earth Sciences Information Centre, the oldest scientific library in Canada. For more information, media may contact: Ghyslain Charron Media Relations Natural Resources Canada (613) 992-4447 Tom Ormsby Director of Communications Office of the Minister Natural Resources Canada (613) 996-2007
