The expedition finished its final leg this morning sailing into VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 inner harbour marking the end of a 150-day, 23,000-kilometre voyage across three coastlines, through the Northwest Passage.
A large crowd gathered on the Wharf Street docks to wave hello as the 220 ft. Coast Guard vessel Polar Prince docked with Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna onboard.
The Canada 150 signature project set sail from Toronto June 1 to explore the nationB次元官网网址檚 coastal communities in the name of diversity and inclusion, reconciliation, youth engagement and the environment. The expedition engaged 20 million Canadians along the way, providing new perspectives, sparking connections and fresh ideas on how to build a better country.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of apprehension about Canada150,B次元官网网址� Canada C3 founder and expedition leader Geoff Green said.
He described visiting with Indigenous communities, leaving awakened and transformed. B次元官网网址淲e left as friends when they realized we werenB次元官网网址檛 just there to celebrate the last 150 years, we were there to learn about it, and to understand and to heal.B次元官网网址�
The Polar Prince B次元官网网址� which Green now calls B次元官网网址渁 Canadian treasureB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� sailed across the Canadian coastline, the longest of any country in the entire world, half of which is in the Arctic. Navigating 12,000 nautical miles, the trip was divided into 15 legs, each with a new group of participants including scientists, artists, Indigenous elders, historians, community leaders, youth, journalists and educators.
Even The Tragically Hip performed on the back of the ship when it landed in Kingston, Ont. Onboard is the Room, one of growing list of safe spaces created to share thoughts and discuss reconciliation.
Canada C3 is funded by over 150 partners and also aims to provide a platform for researchers and scientists to conduct studies on land and at sea. McKenna joined Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc, to announce five per cent of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 coastline is now protected, meeting the conservation goal set by the federal government.
B次元官网网址淲e are a polar nation, and an ocean nation,B次元官网网址� Green said. B次元官网网址淟ife on land needs life in the ocean, not the other way around.B次元官网网址�
Of the journey and what it means, Green said itB次元官网网址檚 been as much about looking to the past, as looking forward.
B次元官网网址淲e have to come to terms with and accept the truth and learn about it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e can only move forward if we do that. This voyage has been very much a journey of reconciliation.B次元官网网址�
