Arctic Futures 2050 Conference

Arctic Futures 2050 Conference

On Friday, September 6, 2019 at 8:30am, Geoff Green will lead a panel discussion focused on Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas in the Arctic at the Arctic Futures 2050 Conference, taking place September 4-6, 2019 in Washington, D.C.

Title: Informing Marine Conservation Areas in the Arctic

In August 2019, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau; Nunavut Premier, Joe Savikataaq, and President of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, P.J. Akeeagok, announced the creation of the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area in Canada’s High Arctic Basin. The new protected area and the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area cover more than 427,000 square kilometres. In this case history, we describe how science and Inuit Qauijimajatuqangit (traditional knowledge) informed creation of the protected areas and will inform future management and protection of Inuit harvesting rights and species at risk.

Moderated by Geoff Green, President & Founder of the Students on Ice Foundation, the panel discussion will include the following panelists:

Sandra Inutiq, Qikiqtani Inuit Association
Kevin McNamee, Parks Canada Agency

Learn more about the Arctic Futures 2050 conference online at the conference website HERE.


Announcement of the Arctic 2019 Expedition

Announcement of the Arctic 2019 Expedition

This summer, Geoff Green will lead the Students on Ice (SOI) 2019 Arctic Expedition, SOI’s largest expedition to date!

Thanks in part to a new partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Canada, this summer’s expedition team will include youth from every circumpolar country! The global nature of SOI expeditions are key in fostering cross­‐cultural collaboration on key issues we face as a global society. This year’s expedition team represents students from 18 countries: Canada, U.S., Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Russia, Peru, England, Ireland, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland, Seychelles, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and China (Hong Kong).

© HOC-CDCCredit: Bernard Thibodeau, House of Commons Photo Services

On June 12th, Geoff and representatives from SOI joined the Delegation of the European Union to Canada in the Speaker’s Salon on Parliament Hill to announce the expedition. Many Ministers of Parliament, ambassadors, partners and supporters were present at the event to participate in the announcement.

A special thank you to the Honourable Geoff Regan, Speaker of the House, for hosting the event and to the Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Canada, Peteris Ustubs; Ambassador of Finland, Vesa Lehtonen; and Ambassador of Sweden, Urban Ahlin for joining SOI in this announcement. Thank you to SOI staff and throat singers Becky Okatsiak and Lynda Brown for their beautiful performance.

© HOC-CDCCredit: Bernard Thibodeau, House of Commons Photo Services

With support from SOI’s global network of partners, 90 per cent of students are fully funded to participate on expedition. To see the full list of scholarship and program funders, visit https://studentsonice.com/…/arctic-2019/expedition-partners/

Geoff receives the prestigious Order of Québec

Geoff receives the prestigious Order of Québec

The SOI Foundation is very proud to announce that our Founder & President, Geoff Green, has been selected to receive l’Ordre national du Québec. This is Québec’s highest honour, recognizing the achievements, values and ideals of exceptional individuals.

On June 20th at the Parliament Building in Québec City, Geoff will receive this great honour in recognition of his distinguished service to his community and his commitment to youth engagement, polar education, and conservation.

Please join us in congratulating Geoff and stay tuned for updates from the official ceremony. To learn more and see the full list of this year’s recipients: http://www.ordrenational.gouv.qc.ca/actualites/communiques/2019-06-13-en.asp


La Fondation SOI est très fière d’annoncer que notre fondateur et président, Geoff Green, a été sélectionné pour recevoir l’Ordre national du Québec. Il s’agit de la plus haute distinction décernée par le Québec, qui reconnaît les réalisations, les valeurs et les idéaux de personnes exceptionnelles.

Le 20 juin, au Parlement, à Québec, Geoff recevra ce grand honneur en reconnaissance de son service distingué envers sa communauté et de son dévouement en faveur de l’engagement des jeunes, de l’éducation polaire et de la conservation.

Joignez-vous à nous pour féliciter Geoff et restez à l’écoute pour les nouvelles de la cérémonie officielle. Pour en savoir plus et voir la liste complète des lauréats de cette année: http://www.ordrenational.gouv.qc.ca/actualites/communiques/2019-06-13-en.asp

Canada C3 Documentary Screening: San Francisco

Canada C3 Documentary Screening: San Francisco

On June 6, Geoff Green presented the Canada C3 documentary as part of Oceans Week and the International Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco. The evening included a panel discussion moderated by Geoff and including panelists Megan Humchitt, Council Member of Heiltsuk Tribal Council and Dr. Don Walsh, legendary Oceanographer, Explorer and Marine Policy Specialist.

Geoff Green moderating the panel post-screening

The International Ocean Film Festival is a non-profit organization whose mission is to save our oceans one film at a time. The IOFF began its legacy at the historic Dolphin Club, adjacent to Aquatic Park in San Francisco. Since screening its first film festival in 2004 the film festival continues to be the ocean destination event of the year. Widely regarded as the most prestigious film festival in the country dedicated solely to film topics focused on the ocean, the IOFF has featured key industry experts such as Jean Michel Cousteau, oceanographer Dr. Don Walsh, filmmaker Louie Psihoyos and many other notable marine scientists.

Mimi & Dan Kingsley, Ana Blanco, Rana Sarkar, Geoff Green & Sebastian Nicholls

Thank you to Ana Blanco, Executive Director, and Sebastian Nicholls, President of International Ocean Film Festival, and Rana Sarkar Consul General of Canada in San Francisco for inviting Geoff to speak about the important work of his Students on Ice Foundation and for hosting the U.S. premiere of the Canada C3 documentary!

Geoff Green and the Air Canada team

Thank you also to Air Canada for donating two roundtrip tickets in support of this event and to the many partners, supporters and alumni who came out in support of the Students on Ice Foundation.

View ALL photos from the IOFF Canada C3 screening here:

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Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala 2019

Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala 2019

Geoff is the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ottawa Riverkeeper, and was pleased to present the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, former Chief Justice of Canada, as the Honorary Riverkeeper at this year’s gala.

Mission 100 Tonnes, a volunteer-run initiative inspired by the Canada C3 expedition and founded by C3 alum Jimmy Vigneux, was awarded one of two Water Leader Awards. Since the inception of this initiative they have removed 31 tonnes of trash from waterways in Quebec.

The event raised a record-breaking $303,000 for clean water.

Read more about the inspiring event below

https://www.riverkeepergala.com/

https://obj.ca/article/ottawa-riverkeeper-gala-rides-wave-success-raise-record-high-270k

More photos from the event here.

Learn more about the Ottawa Riverkeeper.