Atlantic Canadian Icebreaker Will Help Students Experience The Arctic
ST. JOHN’S—A new partnership between an Atlantic Canadian ocean company and a Canadian charity will help introduce the Canadian Arctic to a new generation of young people.
The Students on Ice Foundation (SOI) and Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Services Ltd. have announced a new, three-year partnership that will see SOI charter the PolarPrince icebreaker for arctic expeditions.
Starting next year, SOI will lead expeditions on the Polar Prince through Atlantic Canada and the Canadian Arctic. The voyages will immerse participants in nature and teach them a variety of interdisciplinary topics through the lens of both Indigenous and modern scientific knowledge.
With the help of SOI’s partners, the expeditions will also support initiatives focused on climate change, ocean conservation efforts, Indigenous-led research, and more.
Students On Ice Foundation is a Canadian charity that leads students on educational expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.
Its mandate is to provide youth, educators, and scientists from around the world with learning and teaching opportunities in the polar regions.
Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Services Ltd. formed from a partnership between Horizon Maritime and the Miawpukek First Nation. The company, which owns the Polar Prince, was created to service emerging opportunities in Atlantic Canada’s marine industry.
Miawpukek First Nation Chief Mi’sel Joe said the company is happy to work with SOI.
“Their mission to connect youth to nature and both modern science and Indigenous knowledge aligns strongly with the Miawpukek Horizon mission to accelerate Indigenous participation in the sustainable blue economy,” he said.
SOI founder Geoff Green said the partnership comes at a “critical time,” when the UN and other international actors are putting a special focus on climate change, biodiversity, and ocean health.
“We are optimistic and very excited about the impacts, possibilities, and opportunities this will provide for youth and communities across Canada and beyond,” he said.
The Polar Prince is a 67-metre Canadian icebreaker that has served the country for 60 years.
The ship spent time as a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker and in 2017 was tapped to sail the historic Canada C3 expedition through the Northwest Passage.
Now, SOI says the Polar Prince will continue to serve as “a platform for education, conservation, and training, inspiring a new generation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.”
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