Searching for seaweed in Canada’s Western Arctic

The chilly waters of Canada’s Arctic may not be the first place you think of when picturing beds of colourful seaweed. But even in this frigid climate, marine plants are thriving and have become the focus of a new multi-year research program that kicked off this past summer.

Launched in August 2022, the purpose of the program is to better understand the diversity and biomass of seaweed in the Arctic while also identifying new species living in icy waters. Led by Amanda Savoie, a taxonomist and research scientist at the Canadian Museum of Nature, and based at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut, the first five-week field season saw researchers make multiple dives per day to collect specimens and catalogue species present in the area.

Martin Gregus and Brittany Crossman are two nominees for the prestigious competition developed and produced by the National History Museum

A pair of red foxes nuzzling together amidst a snowy backdrop and a polar bear cub basking in the sunlight surrounded by a mass of purple fireweed – both intimate moments of nature captured by two talented Canadian wildlife photographers.

Martin Gregus and Brittany Crossman are among the 25 shortlisted nominees for this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award run by the National History Museum in London, England. Over 38,575 entries from 93 countries were submitted for selection, including a hyena on the highway, a huddle of golden snub-nosed monkeys and a young perch trapped in the thumb of a surgical glove.

Martin Gregus is no stranger to the National History Museum and is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Rising Star Portfolio Award in 2021.

It all started with a vision — and a chair. In 2018, photographer Randy VanDerStarren and his son Spencer set out to capture the beauty and diversity of our world, with a red and white director’s chair as a common element in each photograph. Over 40,000 photographs and 16 countries later, the chair continues to be a trusted traveling companion, and the VanDerStarrens have no plans to stop anytime soon. Their goal? To spread the message that it is possible for people to unite and take action towards the betterment of our one planet. The chair’s journey so far is captured in a new hardcover book that shares the name of their project: Take Your Seat. Here, Randy VanDerStarren talks about the project’s message, getting the perfect shot, and where the chair is going next.

The Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health and the Environment speaks about her work as a health geographer, restoring relationships with the land, Indigenous methodologies and more

She’s the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health and the Environment and an associate professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Western University. Chantelle Richmond is also part of a growing movement of Indigenous academics and community members pushing for fundamental change in how research around Indigenous issues is conceived and executed. Richmond explains that the challenges experienced in Indigenous communities are multi-faceted and complex, which, in turn, necessitates different approaches to research. Canadian Geographic spoke with Richmond, who recently became a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, about her work.

Journey to the Canadian Arctic where you will marvel at towering icebergs, cruise pristine natural areas to spot amazing Arctic wildlife, enjoy the warmth of an Inuit welcome, and explore the spectacular west coast of Greenland. You’ll travel with local guides who know the place best and can share their cultures with you firsthand.

Expand your knowledge of the places we visit alongside Canadian Geographic ambassador Joseph Frey and Adventure Canada experts on this life-changing journey.

Meet your ambassador

Check out these other upcoming trips:

- Natural Wonders of Western Newfoundland with Charlene Bearhead
- Classic Dolomites with Marlis Butcher
- Wildlife of the Zambezi Valley with Travis Steffens