Parks Canada and Adventure Canada Offer Incredible Highlights of Nunavut

News release

Into the Northwest Passage expedition cruise features visit to HMS Erebus wreck site with Inuit Guardians

May 4, 2018                      Iqaluit, Nunavut                    Parks Canada Agency

Building on last year’s successful collaboration, Parks Canada and Adventure Canada will be showcasing some of the spectacular Parks Canada’s places in Nunavut in 2018. As part of the sold out Into the Northwest Passage expedition cruise, passengers will visit Auyuittuq National Park, Sirmilik National Park, and the wreck of HMS Erebus, which is part of the Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site.

The cruise departs Kangerlussuaq, Greenland on August 17 and begins sailing west towards Baffin Island. Over the course of the journey, passengers will visit the communities of Qikiqtarjuaq, Pond Inlet, and Gjoa Haven to interact, learn, and share time with Inuit. Adventure Canada will have sea kayaks onboard, so passengers can paddle in the waters of the Arctic and an interpretive program with the Inuit Guardians of HMS Erebus will be particularly memorable.

Through the work being completed with Adventure Canada, Parks Canada is creating a legacy of experiences. Training, development, and benefits for Inuit in the communities is a primary goal of partnering with Adventure Canada. The Joint Park Management Committees for Auyuittuq and Sirmilik National Parks and the Franklin Interim Advisory Committee for the Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site were advisors on the development of cruise ship activities.

While the 2018 cruise is sold out, bookings for 2019 are now available with Adventure Canada.

Additional multimedia

Adventure Canada Archaeologist, Latonia Hartery, teaching passengers about a cultural site in Auyuittuq National Park. Scott Forsyth – Adventure Canada (copyright Parks Canada Agency)
Taking a photo of the inscription left by Captain J.E. Bernier at Canada Point - Titiralik, Sirmilik National Park (copyright Parks Canada Agency).

Quotes

“Inuit help share the stories of our national parks and historic sites with Canadians and the world. Through this collaboration with Inuit, Adventure Canada, and Parks Canada, there are new and exciting opportunities for people to experience Canada’s most northern national parks and historic sites – which will also support the growth of local economies through tourism.”

The Honourable Catherine McKenna,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

“Canada’s National Parks represent the jewels of the Canadian landscape. The ecological and cultural significance of the destinations we visit with Parks Canada weaves a wonderful opportunity for firsthand learning, story sharing, engagement, and sustainable economic development. Our priorities are to draw upon and incorporate Inuit knowledge, while developing sustainable visitation guidelines and supporting local communities. It is our responsibility to work alongside our partners to ensure safe, purposeful, and educational travel experiences in Nunavut and beyond.”

Cedar Bradley-Swan,
Adventure Canada CEO
 

Quick facts

  • Founded in 1987, Adventure Canada is a family-owned and operated adventure travel company specializing in land-based and small ship cruise adventures in Canada’s arctic and east coast regions, Greenland, and select wilderness destinations. Adventure Canada’s trips feature a wide array of special guests, including musicians, authors, biologists, and historians.

  • Onboard events will include presentations by a member of Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Team to talk about the work that has been completed for the wreck of HMS Erebus as well as the upcoming excavation of the site. Additional programming will also highlight the national parks visited during the cruise.

  • The RV David Thompson, Parks Canada’s newest research vessel, will be the main operational platform for the continued investigation of the Franklin wrecks and is scheduled to be on site at the time of the Adventure Canada’s visit.

  • Passengers will have the opportunity to witness first-hand one of the largest and most important underwater archaeological undertakings in Canadian history as Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Team begins the excavation of HMS Erebus in collaboration with Inuit partners.

Related products

Associated links

Contacts

Caroline Thériault
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-938-3813
caroline.theriault2@canada.ca

Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Adventure Canada
647-760-5256
katie@adventurecanada.com

Page details

Date modified: