Intended to help inspire a greater awareness and understanding of Canada’s land, people, and cultures, the Canada C3 signature project is a fantastic representation of what Canada 150 is all about. 

An initiative of the Students on Ice Foundation, Canada C3 is an epic sailing journey which will take place over the course of 150 days. The expedition began in Toronto on June 1st. It will travel along the coast and is expected to reach Victoria on October 28, 2017. Along the way it will pass through the iconic Northwest Passage. 

Canada C3 will cover a grand total of 12,000 nautical miles (23,000 kilometres at sea) as it journeys along Canada’s three coastlines. It will consist of 15 legs, each leg ranging from seven to 12 days. As the voyage passes through a total of six different ecozones, passengers will have a chance to experience the breathtaking natural beauty of forests, sandy beaches, tundra, remote inlets, and more. 

At the beginning of each leg, a new group of participants will be joining Canada C3. Just who will be getting aboard? The goal is for the passengers of Canada C3 to reflect the diversity of Canada. Indigenous Elders, artists, scientists, historians, educators, journalists, community leaders, and Canadian youth will all have a chance to share their stories and experiences aboard Canada C3, and to connect with communities across the country. 

The goal of the expedition and of inviting such a diverse group of people to take part is to provide the rest of Canada with a lens through which they can take in the country’s coastline. Using various digital platforms, Canada C3 participants will share the story of their voyage and of the people they meet along the way. 

Canada C3 will explore the themes of Diversity and Inclusion, Reconciliation, Youth Engagement, and the Environment. It will accomplish this by meeting with local communities and connecting with a wide range of people in order to share ideas about Canada’s past, present, and future. 

One of the main ways that Canada C3 will explore its themes and meet its goals is through its Science Program. The Canada C3 Science Program is intended to take advantage of the unique voyage route with a variety of research proposals which will provide us with invaluable insight into Canada’s coastal and marine environments. Researchers are also excited to become acquainted with the traditional ecological knowledge of coastal communities. 

All of this fantastic adventure will be taking place aboard a Canadian-flagged, 67-metre research icebreaker which once served in the Canadian Coast Guard. The vessel is outfitted with research labs, advanced navigation equipment, and the latest satellite technologies which will enable all Canadians, wherever they are, to experience the journey.