Presenter: Expedition Leader David Reid
Saturday, March 18, 2023
3:00 to 5:00pm
Please Register to reserve space
Cost: By Donation
Please note that this course is now full. You may register in order to go on our waiting list and we will notify you if we get cancellations or you will be admitted according to your position on the list should we have no shows on the day... our "fly standby" option.
Almonte Public Library
155 High Street
Almonte
In March 1854, Orcadian explorer John Rae set out from Naujaat (Repulse Bay) in the central Canadian Arctic. Together with Inuk William Ouligbuck and Ojibway Thomas Mistegan, Rae discovered both the final link in the first navigable Northwest Passage and the catastrophe that had engulfed the failed Franklin expedition. In doing so, Rae completed one of the most significant expeditions in the history of Arctic exploration.
In March 2019, the Arctic Return Expedition team set out from Naujaat on skis to retrace the 650km route taken by Rae and his companions. Rae’s success was due in great part to his willingness to learn from the Indigenous people of the region. He traveled with patience, humility, respect and honesty. The goal of the Arctic Return journey was to bring awareness, pay
tribute to and honor John Rae; one of the greatest Arctic explorers of all time. An explorer too long in the shadows of history.
Arctic Return expedition leader David Reid is delighted to take you on a journey of discovery, history and adventure. Join us in a celebration of Orcadian John Rae; an extraordinary and unique Arctic explorer.
About David Reid
Since moving from Scotland to Canada's Arctic over 25 years ago, David Reid has been involved in the
Arctic expedition and travel business. In that time, he has travelled thousands of miles by dog
sled, ski, snowmobile, kayak, ship, foot and became the first person to cross Baffin Island by fat
tire bike. He has guided scientists and film makers, researchers and Royalty, movie stars and
thousands of individuals from around the world. He has completed numerous trips through the
Northwest Passage and to Churchill Manitoba, the polar bear capital of the world .
Over the years David has specialized in projects involving film and television, including BBC
Planet earth and Frozen Planet, Billy Connolly’s Flight of The Snow Goose, Netflix’ Our Planet, National
Geographic and the Suzuki Diaries.
He has a passion and enthusiasm for sharing stories that help people understand and
appreciate how unique and precious our polar regions are. David has been recognized by the
Explorers Club and has recently been made a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society