2015-2016

News Release

REF NO.: 39

SUBJECT: PSA: A behind the scenes look at the 2014 Franklin expedition

DATE: October 22, 2015

What happened to Sir John Franklin’s 1845 expedition through the Northwest Passage? Some of the mystery was uncovered in 2014 with the discovery of one of Franklin’s two ships.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, George Schlagintweit of the Central and Arctic Region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) will describe the role of CHS in the discovery of one of Franklin’s lost ships, the HMS Erebus. He’ll even have a scale model of the Erebus for participants to explore.

The public lecture is being hosted by the Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) and the City of St. John’s to officially kick off Ocean Week and Ocean Innovation 2015. The event will be held in the observation area of MI’s flume tank from 2-4 p.m.

Mr. Schlagintweit is an employee of Central and Arctic Region of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) – a sector within the Science Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He has actively co-ordinated CHS’s participation in the search for the lost Franklin vessels since 2012.

The lecture is free; all ages are welcome. Parking is available in lot M1. Complimentary refreshments will be served and there are prizes to be won, including a free night at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland with breakfast for two.

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