Nearing the final leg of its 150-day journey around the country’s three coastlines, the Canada 3C expedition icebreaker made a stop at Gambier Island on Oct. 22.
Ian Winn, Sunshine Coast Regional District Area F director, was one of a handful of people from Howe Sound who was invited to board the 67-metre Polar Prince during its Gambier visit.
“We had the opportunity to participate in a sharing circle with the crew and participants of the C3 vessel Polar Prince, and hear stories of the coast to coast to coast C3 voyage and the scientific studies and very important First Nations reconciliation that happened along the way,” Winn said.
“Our group shared stories on the amazing recovery of Howe Sound and the efforts by so many to make it happen,” he added.
Tim Turner and Bob Turner of the Sea to Sky Outdoor School organized a small group of citizens, who are involved in the recovery of Howe Sound, to join the C3 for the day. The group included representatives from First Nations, environmental groups, politicians, citizen scientists and recreational users.
Invited guests loaded into four large voyageur canoes and the group paddled around Halkett Bay, learning about the preservation of glass sponge reefs, the HMCS Annapolis artificial reef and the studies done that day by the scientists aboard the C3.
“A paddle over to the ship and tour of the labs and the emotionally charged sharing rooms aboard the ship capped off this fantastic day,” Winn said.
The 23,000-kilometre voyage, which ended Oct. 28 in Victoria, was a Canada 150 project aimed at connecting Canadians. The federal government provided about one-third of the $10-million budget, with the rest coming from private donors. Along the way the crew and guests heard stories from coastal communities and explored the themes of diversity and inclusion, reconciliation, youth engagement and the environment.
Other B.C. stops included Campbell River, Desolation Sound, Powell River, Vancouver, and Saturna and Salt Spring islands.
