OTTAWA, Dec. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona
Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for
Parks Canada, today highlighted the incredible discovery related to
Sir John Franklin's ships, including
the identification of HMS Erebus and recovery of the ship's
bell, as a significant scientific and historical accomplishment in
2014.
This historic discovery represents the crowning achievement of
the successful 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition. As the most
ambitious search organized to date, the 2014 Expedition brought
together partners from public, private and not-for-profit sectors,
and utilized a unique combination of Inuit traditional knowledge
and modern technology to solve one of the world's greatest maritime
mysteries.
Franklin's 1845 search to find the Northwest Passage and the
ships he commanded, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror,
are an important part of Canadian history. The discovery of HMS
Erebus has captivated Canadians and the entire world and
serves to highlight Canada's
Arctic sovereignty, our scientific expertise and partnerships, and
our respect for Aboriginal peoples' traditional knowledge.
Quick Facts on This Significant Accomplishment
- Since 2008, the Government of Canada has conducted six major Parks
Canada-led searches for Sir John
Franklin's lost ships, painstakingly covering many hundreds
of square kilometres of the Arctic seabed.
- The Government of Canada's
partners for the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition included Parks
Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian
Hydrographic Service), the Royal Canadian Navy, Defence Research
and Development Canada, Environment Canada (Canadian Ice Service),
and the Canadian Space Agency, as well as the Governments of
Nunavut and the United Kingdom. Private and non-profit
partners included the Arctic Research Foundation, the Royal
Canadian Geographical Society who additionally brought in The W.
Garfield Weston Foundation, Shell Canada and One Ocean Expeditions
as partners.
- The initial discovery of one of Franklin's ships, made by
side-scan sonar towed from the Parks Canada research vessel
Investigator, was confirmed on
September 7, 2014, using Parks
Canada's remotely operated vehicle. On September 30, 2014, it was confirmed that the
ship is HMS Erebus.
- On November 6, the bell recovered
from HMS Erebus during dives and
archaeological investigation by Parks Canada's underwater
archaeology team in September was unveiled. The artifact has been
undergoing conservation stabilization and additional research since
then.
- On December 18, Parks Canada and
the Royal Ontario Museum announced a collaboration to create
The Franklin Project, a programme
featuring pop-up displays, lectures, and exhibitions that will
incorporate contemporary research and technology and Inuit
traditional knowledge to bring the Franklin story to life and
connect Canadians to this incredible tale. The centrepiece of the
programme features a 3D printed replica of the bell recovered from
HMS Erebus.
- William Battersby, author and a
leading historian on the Franklin Expedition, called locating one
of Franklin's lost ships "the biggest archaeological discovery the
world has seen since the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb almost 100
years ago." (www.franklinexpedition.blogspot.ca)
Quote
"The discovery of Franklin's ship, HMS Erebus, is a
significant scientific and historical accomplishment and a defining
moment for our nation and has special importance for all Canadians.
Our Government shares the pride in this incredible achievement made
possible by the Inuit traditional knowledge and looks forward to
further discoveries in 2015 and to helping connect Canadians to
this incredible shared heritage."
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq,
Minister of the
Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
Associated Links
Harper Government and Royal Ontario Museum formalize partnership
to bring the story of the Franklin Expedition to Canadians
Harper Government Announces the Recovery of the HMS Erebus
Bell
PM announces HMS Erebus as the discovered Franklin
Expedition ship
Governments of Canada and
Nunavut celebrate Franklin
Expedition Discoveries in Gjoa
Haven
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada announcing the discovery of one of the
ill-fated Franklin Expedition Ships lost in 1846
Minister Aglukkaq Announces 2014 Search for Franklin
Expedition
Royal Canadian Geographical Society – The 2014 Victoria Strait
Expedition
Parks Canada:
www.pc.gc.ca
SOURCE Parks Canada