Franklin ceremony planned
Gjoa Haven seeking ways to capitalize on tourism opportunities from Erebus and Terror
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Monday, July 24, 2017
GJOA HAVEN
Gjoa Haven is gearing up for a September celebration honouring the discovery of the Franklin expedition ships the Erebus and Terror.
Using sonar technology, the Canadian Hydrographic Service was able to create this image of the Erebus, one of the Franklin expedition ships, on the ocean floor in the Queen Maud Gulf. The wreckage of the Erebus was found in 2014. - image courtesy of the Canadian Hydrographic Service |
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, who is responsible for Parks Canada, is expected to unveil a Franklin expedition plaque in the community to kick things off on Sept. 2.
The festivities will continue until Sept. 10. Two cruise ships are scheduled to visit Gjoa Haven during that time frame: the 264-passenger Le Boreal on Sept. 2 and the 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour on Sept. 10.
Mayor Joanni Sallerina said he welcomes the potential for a growing number of cruise ship tourists curious about the ill-fated 1845 Franklin expedition, but the challenge is how to take full advantage of the opportunities.
"We're going to have to create something like 'Welcome to the home of the lost Franklin (expedition)' cups or caps or T-shirts, or something like that," Sallerina said.
Unfortunately for Gjoa Haven's artists, the community's location puts it in the middle of Northwest Passage cruise itineraries, so there's generally less interest from passengers in purchasing arts and crafts, Sallerina said.
"A lot of the tourists that I talk to, they tend to buy at the beginning and the end of their trip," he said.
Although he's cognizant that cruise ship traffic could have an effect on wildlife, Sallerina said he's seeking to boost employment opportunities.
"I think it's more of a positive thing for the community," he said of the burgeoning tourist market. "A small community like this with 1,400 people and not very many jobs... I'm hoping that the community will benefit from this finding."
A few of those new jobs will come from the establishment of a Franklin visitor and field research centre, funded by Parks Canada, where artifacts from the doomed voyage will be on display.
"I'm hoping once that is set up, not just in the summertime, but in the spring and fall and wintertime, it will attract more visitors," Sallerina said.
The mayor added that he hasn't gone to the Erebus and Terror wreckage sites since their discovery, but he said he's sure he's passed over both ships while hunting on the ice above.
"I've probably travelled over both boats in the past and never thought of it," he said.
The Terror was found about 24 metres below the surface in the Queen Maud Gulf in September 2016. The Erebus was located in the same gulf, but in September 2014.
Those British ships were on a mission to traverse the Northwest Passage, proving a sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to Asia could be completed.
The ships departed England in 1845 and were frozen into the Arctic ice in 1846. All 129 men that were part of the expedition perished.
Close to 170 years later, Parks Canada led searches that resulted in the discovery of the wreckage.
