The Canada-UK Foundation and Students on Ice Foundation celebrated the launch of their exciting new partnership on Monday, November 4, 2019.
The evening included a dynamic panel discussion on the challenges, opportunities and recent successes in establishing Marine Protected Areas in the Polar regions, featuring prominent Arctic and Antarctic experts.
The panel included Geoff Green, Paul Rose, Explorer, Expedition Leader and Broadcaster, Dr Rachel Carr, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography at the University of Newcastle and Ashley Cummings, an Inuit youth advocate and Arctic Inspiration Prize co-winner.
The Students on Ice Foundation’s partnership with the Canada UK Foundation is a wonderful example of the importance of global partnerships. Two organizations working together – connecting youth and adults from different parts of the world in a greater understanding of one another, and in the challenges and opportunities we face as a global society.
Inuit youth advocate Ashley Cummings
2019 Arctic alumna Nuiana Hardenberg
Ingrid Medby, Senior Lecturer in Political Geography & 2019 Arctic staff alumna
With a busy fall underway, Geoff recently attended the Blue Leaders Call to Action on Ocean and Climate conference during Climate Week in New York City.
The event focused on the important findings in the new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Ocean and the Cryosphere in a Changing Climate.
These “Blue Leaders” focused on opportunities to advance meaningful solutions to the new report’s alarming findings on climate related impacts on the ocean.
A number of high-level representatives from countries around the world participated in the event including the president of Seychelles whom Geoff had the pleasure of meeting.
Geoff Green and President of Seychelles, Danny Faure
The event focused on ocean actions and commitments needed to protect and enhance the health and resilience of the ocean during this critical point in time. Many important solutions were discussed including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, ocean protection, the phasing out of harmful fisheries and much more.
The event left a much-needed powerful call to action in the face of the unprecedented changes facing our planet today.
During the Blue Leaders Call to Action, Students on Ice was proud to present the premiere of the Students on Ice student-led Two Breaths film.
The powerful voices of the youth are louder than ever !
On the Students on Ice Arctic 2019 expedition, where 130 youth from around the world were brought together on a life-changing journey to learn about the past, present and future of the Arctic. They have one message they want you to hear: Do Better.
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.
On June 25th, Geoff Green and the Students On Ice Foundation hosted the opening of the brand new exhibition Open Channels in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts.
Geoff spoke about the importance of connecting Canadians from all walks of life to the people and places that make up Canada’s coastline to gain a greater understanding of our past, present and future.
“As Canadians, we find ourselves at a crossroads socially, politically, and environmentally and this dialogue became fundamental to the experience on Canada C3.”
He spoke with gratitude to each and every artist who joined the Canada C3 expedition for helping to continue this important conversation and the legacy of Canada C3 through art.
At Open Channels discover the works of visual artists who took part in the Canada C3 sailing expedition organized for the 150th anniversary of Confederation, in 2017. Aboard the ship, the artists drew inspiration from Canada’s ever-evolving environmental, social and cultural landscapes, as well as from dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
A special thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des Arts du Canada and the Canada Council Art Bank / Banque d’art du Conseil des arts du Canada teams and to curator Melissa Rombout for making this exhibition possible. The Students on Ice Foundation is grateful for the support of sponsors Gretchen and Donald Ross, Randall Howard, Peter J. Poole, Bill Lockington, Birch Hill Equity Partners and Tarek Sherif.
The artists whose works are presented in this exhibition include Lizzie Ittinuar, Sarni Pootoogook, Deanna Bailey, Soheila Esfahani, Christine Fitzgerald, Anna Gaby-Trotz, Phil Irish, Benjamin Kikkert, Paula Murray, Dominique Normand, Geoff Phillips, Francine Potvin, Leslie Reid, Rachel Rozanski and Véronique Tifo.
This free exhibition is open daily to the public at the Âjagemô Exhibition Space at 150 Elgin, Ottawa until January 2020.
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).
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.
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/
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.
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.
