Eric W. Manchester -Writer - Photographer - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier

Arctic Expedition Sponsors

Canadian Airborne Regiment

ARCTIC EXPEDITION 2007

For 76 days, during August through October 2007, I sailed aboard the icebreaker, Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier. I joined the ship to document its 2007 Arctic patrol. (Read my daily journal, below)

My freelance objective was simple. The ship's mission was not. Laurier's voyage, which began and ended in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, comprised issues of Canadian sovereignty; international scientific research; northern community survival; navigation safety; search and rescue; and icebreaking techniques - among others. Consequently, the entire patrol was rich in diverse subject matter.

The patrol occurred during the International Polar Year, which was billed as an intensive, coordinated burst of scientific effort to accelerate advances in knowledge and understanding of Earth's Polar Regions. It was also at a time of increased activity by modern-day Arctic explorers seeking natural resources, trade routes and tourist dollars in an environment that is both hostile and vulnerable.

While onboard I had unrestricted access throughout the ship, to its officers, crew and the hosted science teams. I participated in ship, helicopter and small-boat projects, which enabled me to chronicle aspects of shipborne, airborne, and land/ice-based activities.

THE SHIP

The 83-metre Laurier - a Canadian prime minister's namesake - is a light icebreaker and navaids tender. The 1986-vintage ship has three 16-cylinder diesel engines that produce 7,600 horsepower, which, when converted through two electric propulsion motors results in 15-knot speeds. When this power is applied to Laurier’s 3,800 registered tons, one-metre thick ice is dispersed at five-knot speeds. Depending on conditions, Laurier can even defeat ice three metres thick. A five-passenger helicopter is carried on deck for re-supply, reconnaissance and repair work, which can be launched and retrieved in three-metre seas and winds to 40 knots. The ship’s complement of up to 50 officers, crew and scientists worked 12-hour shifts, seven days per week, around the clock. Two complete crews shared Laurier, changing every six weeks. The researchers hailed from universities and agencies in Canada, Japan and the United States.

THE SHIP'S WORK

Besides being a Canadian sovereignty presence in the Arctic and hosting myriad science projects, the ship's own coast guard work was intense. Laurier serviced hundreds of navigation aids and beacons. During most summers icebreaking is a life-sustaining task. The ship opens passages for tugs and barges hauling supplies to remote villages and other isolated sites, which are essential to their surviving the winter - everything from canned goods to new houses and fuel. Laurier’s escort services were not needed during 2007, as that summer had the least amount of sea ice on record.

AREA OF OPERATIONS

Its expansive operations took Laurier near the International Dateline in the Bering Strait at about 170° West Longitude; above 75° North Latitude in the Arctic Ocean, and, as far east as Boothia Peninsula at around 95° West Longitude - roughly straight up from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Overall, the ship travelled some 15,000 nautical miles – mostly on shallow, uncharted waters.

CONDITIONS

Weather, especially wind and fog (together), repeatedly interrupted Laurier’s critical work. For nearly four months, around the clock, the wind continuously blew at more than 20 knots, and was frequently in the 30-50-knot range. The summer weather included below-freezing temperatures, fast-moving rain-sleet squalls and snow. Strong winds frequently blew up big seas, sufficient to make onboard life challenging – the worst being 75-knot wind and ten-metre seas during the homeward voyage.

ARCTIC CREDENTIALS

My prior northern experience includes military deployments parachuting into Alaska, plus Canadian locales Coral Harbour, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, and Resolute where we lived in tents and travelled the land by snowmobile and skis in -50°F conditions.

Arctic Journal

Arctic Photos

CANADIAN ARCTIC AID

I’m asking for your help to assist Canada’s Arctic people.

When I see how Canadians rally to help those in dire need around the planet, besides being reassured that people haven’t entirely lost their compassionate souls, it bothers me to think that we can do such good elsewhere, yet all but neglect the Canadians here at home who need so much. To me, that is not only an embarrassment in our affluent nation but also a travesty among the worst kinds.

My passion for the Arctic ignited with my first deployment there as a youthful paratrooper, becoming evermore intrigued with successive missions from Alaska to Hudson Bay and points between. More recently, I had the privilege to better know the people and communities while plying the waters of the western Canadian Arctic aboard CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier. (Read my daily journal, below)

Learning their stories and seeing their life struggles left me inexplicably unsettled since returning to my southern comforts. I feel compelled to find ways to benefit their existence and to personally be challenged in the pursuit of a greater good. From my experiences in the Arctic, and because I want this amazing country of mine to be truly great everywhere within itself, I see this as an endeavour worth pursuing – if not long overdue.

I recently created an organization to deliver meaningful aid to our Arctic people and communities - not just short term, quick-fix stuff, but also an ongoing plan to foster northern community vitality and independence.

We are the Canadian Arctic Aid Society, operating as:

Canadian Arctic Service Corps

It is non-profit, non-governmental, non-political, non-religious, and non-partisan – being humanitarian to its core, with no other motive for its efforts.

It might seem that “everything” is needed, but there is a logical way to break the needs into something do-able for a specific community. Not to lead your thinking, I won’t mention here what is on my list – rather ask you, if you were mounting a humanitarian mission to the Canadian Arctic:

What do they need but not get from anyone else?
What do they get but need more of?
Which organizations or individuals seem likely allies to help make this happen?

These out-of-sight, out-of-mind Canadians exist in sub-standard, often-overcrowded dwellings and struggle with poverty, hunger, disease and despair – due in large measure to the northward encroachment of others interests.

Besides appreciating and valuing your observations and comments, I would welcome your collaboration to help make a difference in the lives of our farthest-north citizens.

Please care enough to become the solution!

Contact me via email info@arcticservicecorps.org

If not now - when? If not us - who?