March 30, 2015 - Sidney, British Columbia
Senator Nancy Greene Raine was joined by Royal Canadian Geographical Society Governor Joseph Frey in Sidney to celebrate the role of the Canadian Coast Guard in the 2014 historic discovery of Sir John Franklin’s lead ship HMS Erebus in the eastern waters of Queen Maud Gulf.
The event, held at the Institute of Oceans Sciences, included Senator Greene Raine and Governor Frey awarding the Erebus Medals to crew members of Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier who directly took part in the 2014 Franklin expedition.
The event follows an earlier event held in March by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Toronto that celebrated all of the public and private partners involved.
It is an honour to present the Canadian Coast Guard crew of CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier with these commemorative medals to celebrate their role in helping solve a century old mystery. Like many Canadians, I’m eager to watch this mystery continue to unfold throughout this upcoming season.
Senator Nancy Greene Raine
CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and her outstanding crew played a critical role in the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition that found HMS Erebus. We recognize the find as a great moment not only in underwater archeology, or in Arctic science, or even in exploration history — but a great moment for Canada. The Erebus Medal salutes the Coast Guard’s key role, as well as that played by our other partners in the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition.
John Geiger, CEO Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Erebus Medal
Established by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2015, the Erebus Medal recognizes participants in what was formerly called the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition and their contributions to the discovery of HMS Erebus, the exploration ship commanded by Sir John Franklin and lost during his ill-fated 1845-48 expedition. All participants in the discovery, including those in the field and those who worked behind the scenes are recognized with the Erebus Medal. Together, they have rewritten the history books and underscored the importance of the geography of Canada’s Arctic.
Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Photo Caption
Senator Nancy Greene Raine, Royal Canadian Geographical Society Governor Joseph Frey, Coast Guard Assistant Commissioner Roger Girouard, Director of Fleet Joanne McNish and Captain Bill Noon, and the CCG crew award recipients from the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier celebrate the role of the Canadian Coast Guard during the 2014 Franklin expedition.
Frank Stanek
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
Sophie Doucet
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
NR-HQ-15-23E
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