Christine Chandler will give an illustrated presentation about a trip through the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic to the Sunshine Coast Natural History Society, on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre.
The trip was taken on the Akademik Ioffe, a 117-metre ship built in 1989 in Rauma, Finland that was designed specifically for polar research. It has twin diesel engines and a hull especially strengthened for travel through sea ice. The ship has a crew of 63 and handles up to 96 passengers. The 12-day trip was from Cambridge Bay through the Northwest Passage to Iqaluit on Baffin Island, Nunavut. It was organized by the Canadian University alumni, during August and September, 2015.
Chandler developed an adventurous spirit in her early years travelling through Europe on camping trips with her parents following WWII. Since then she has been on many trips, visiting five continents and 40 countries, mostly on a shoestring budget, or through working on location with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation summer teaching program.
Chandler retired 19 years ago to the Sunshine Coast, following a 35-year career as an educator and counsellor. She volunteers with Sunshine Coast Community Services, the Sechelt Garden Club and the Davis Bay Community Association. She still enjoys travelling as well as swimming, kayaking, playing bridge and gardening.
