Post Journey Updates
News stories about the 2012 Arctic Expedition still coming in!
Check out the News Page for the latest, post-expedition articles about our journey. Recent stories have been posted from The Western Star (Newfoundland), Ottawa South EMC, Nanaimo News Bulletin (B.C.) and the Newfoundland Herald!
http://www.studentsonice.com/arctic2012/news.php
Thank you letters to the Canadian Coast Guard
We all know how the Canadian Coast Guard rescued the 2012 Arctic Expedition during the evening of August 3 and the early morning hours of August 4. The story has already become the stuff of SOI legend for without the Coast Guard's help, the expedition may never have launched at all! In their gratitude, all the students of the 2012 expedition penned thank you letters to the Coast Guard and we've posted a few of these letters below.
Thank you Canadian Coast Guard from the entire SOI team!
Dear Captain Bertroi and the crew of the Des Grosel,
Thank you so much for making it possible for Students on Ice to get out of Frobisher Bay, Everyone on the ship was so welcoming, kind, and helpful, I have had an amazing time on this trip, exploring islands, spotting wildlife, and visiting communities in the Northern Canada and Greenland. Also a special thanks to the helicopter pilot for the flying and air tricks. This trip has been a success because of all of you. Thank you so much again for making this expedition possible for all of us.
Thanks again.
Sincerely Alana Krug-Macleod
Dear Canadian Coast Guard,
As a student participant on the Students on Ice expedition 2012. I would like to thank you for all your support in helping us by escorting us all 100+ students and staff out of Iqaluit, Nunavut to our ship the Akademik Ioffe. These last two weeks have been such an incredible experience and it would not have turned out so well if it weren’t for your help.
A special thank you to the crew for feeding us cookies and juice and also for entertaining us with an accordion performance J I really enjoyed it.
I also wanted to say thank you for allowing me to share my culture with you by throat singing (inuit) as throat singing and performing is one of my many passions. (if you ever need a performer let me know J )
Thank you very much!
Ashley Qulaut
Aupaluktuq-Burton
Ranking Inlet,
Nunavut ,Canada.
12 aout 2012
Cher Des Groseilleirs, Merci! Merci non seulement d’avoir fait en sorte que notre expedition ai eu lieu , mais d’avoir ete si chaleureux envers nous. De voir tout ces francophones nous aider, m’a rendue si joyeuse. Vous avez fait en sorte que notre aventure se realise dans l’exitement et le calme.
Merci enormement !!!
J’espere que vous avez eu un bon sejour a Iqaluit!
Marine
Dear: All the Crew on the Canadian Coast Guard.
Thank you all for taking all of our “Students On Ice Family.” I know so many of us would be heart broken if it weren’t for you men and women that helped us get to our ship. If it weren’t for you all I would’ve missed a trip of a lifetime. I felt so grateful when I heard the Canadian Coast Guard was taking us to our ship. I also had a lot of fun when the barge or boat came to pick us up from Iqaluit to bring us to our ship – that also was a trip of a lifetime. I sure enjoyed my time in the Canadian Coast Guard of all yours. It is such a beauty inside and out!! Again, thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Carmella Klengenberg
Ulukhatok, North-West Territoriesd
To the Canadian Coast Guard,
I thank you for your amazing help! We wouldn’t have gone on our ship if it wasn’t for your fabulous efforts. It was amazing how we had a record to your closest stop in Iqaluit. Many people who do not work for/on the Canadian Coast Guard don’t get on the Canadian Coast Guard ship, and over 100 students and staff helping up one by one, luggage by luggage, barge by barge, individuals by individuals, and your outstanding efforts to do all these amazing, tremendous thank you letters to you because you had put smiles on our faces, you had put expectations higher for most of the Students on Ice participants to make this expedition start after a two day delay of our expedition. You had brighten up our feelings after helping all of us go on the ship.
I can’t thank you enough for your efforts for helping out the Students On Ice program when we were stuck in Iqaluit.
My name is Newkinga Moss, a participant from the 2012 Arctic Expedition. I will make the best wishes that you would love to offer!
Thank You, Canadian Coast Guard!
Newkinga Moss
Iqaluit, Nunavut
Dear Canadian Coast Guard,
Chers Gardes-cotieres canadiens, du bateau “Des Grosseilliers”.
Comment vous remerciez pour avoir sauveé notre expédition? De votre gentillene et de votre accueil chaleureux? Sans vous, notre expédition aurait probablement été écouté d’encore quelques jours et nous n’aurions par pu découvrir et explorer cette région si belle, si fragile, si unique. Ces quelques heures sur votre bâteau ont été très agréables, vos cookies étaient délicieux, et je doinvous dine que notre bâteau est très comfortable. Merci pour avoir partagé avec nous les vidéos de l’ours pleine, et du brise-glace. Merci pour les cameils que deux monsieur derrière le comptoir m’ont apparté. Votre travail est admirable et je suis certaine que chacun d’entre vous ferez de nous explorateurs et pionners, rentez comme vous êtes et protègez de mes cette région exceptionnelle que je vous protèger de loin. Merci encore et j’espère vous revoir un jour!
Bonne continuation,
Alexia Fabriani
Monaco, Monte Carlo
Canadian Coast
Guard
THANK YOU! Thank you so much for helping us! We appreciated very much and thank you sebastien for teaching me how to speak French! You have a really nice ship. I hope you guys have a safe trip and awesome adventures, you guys take care
Merci beaucoup! :D
Qujanamik
(thank you)
Lynzie Qaqasiq
Pangnirtung NU
Dear Canadian Coast Guard,
Wow, where can I begin? THANK YOU! If not for you and your kindness and generosity we wouldn’t have experienced so many things. Your kindness allowed us to see 8 polar bears, 3 seals and 2 walruses all on the first day. Not only did we experience so much on the Akademik Ioffe, but the hospitality and time spent on the ship was amazing. The staff was so interesting in their conversations and it was so much fun to see picturesof polar bears. I am aware that it was against protocol to help us so again, thank you. I can’t imagine how nervous or anxious you were about what could happen but you were courageous and it is deeply appreciated.
Thank you from everyone,
Michela