Randy Edmunds settles into a Compass Club chair aboard theOcean Endeavorand tackles the finishing of a superb pair of moose and sealskin mittens. We chat about moose, caribou, the village of Nain, the capital of Nunatsiavut, the Inuit region of Labrador that we will visit tomorrow.
“I’m excited, I’m going to see my two grandchildren,” he confides.
Randy Edmunds is an Inuit, experienced hunter and fisherman who serves as a cultural interpreter on a cruise off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador organized by Adventure Canada.
PHOTO MARIE TISON THE PRESS
Randy Edmunds has an impressive background. He enjoys introducing visitors to the culture and vision of the Inuit of Nunatsiavut.
But there is more. He served as the Member of Parliament for Torngat Mountains in the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature for two terms. And he is the father of Jason Edmunds, the leader of the expedition, of whom he is immensely proud.
“He was the first Inuit who embarked on the Northwest Passage as an expedition leader,” he explains.
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PHOTO MARIE TISON, THE PRESS
Musician Adam Ruzzo enhances a zodiac ride in a fjord on the southwest coast of Newfoundland with a few songs. Expedition members play several roles. When he’s not playing guitar, Adam Ruzzo pilots zodiacs.
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PHOTO MARIE TISON, THE PRESS
Archaeologist Michelle Davis spent several years at the site of Hebron in the Torngat Mountains. She is enthusiastic about another site, Ramah, where there are remains of turf houses.
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PHOTO MARIE TISON, THE PRESS
The geology of northern Labrador is fascinating. Geographer Lynn Moorman explains to visitors the characteristics of different rocks.
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PHOTO MARIE TISON, THE PRESS
Lucas Lane, a young Inuit member of the Adventure Canada expedition team, takes advantage of a stopover at the base camp of Torngat National Park to capture some Arctic graylings.
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Adventure Canada is a family business based in Ontario that specializes in northern cruises. It was founded in 1987 by brothers Matthew and Bill Swan and their friend David Freeze. Matthew Swan’s children are now in charge. They want to give an important place to the inhabitants of the territories crossed. They can thus present their vision of the world and their version of history.
While we are talking about reconciliation, it can be difficult to address the question of the effects of colonization. These conversations need to happen, but they need to be done in a careful, respectful way. And it’s all about celebrating our culture.
Jason Edmunds, expedition leader
And humor has its place. Randy Edmunds recounts how, at the time, he and his friends would go out to meet strangers who arrived in the community. They were anthropologists, geologists, biologists, archaeologists, etc. All nouns which, in English, end with -ist.
“So we called them the -ists. It’s ironic, because today I am also a -istA culturalist ! »
There are a lot of -ists on board theOcean Endeavorwho take turns to provide interpretation in the field during stopovers, and give conferences on board during travel. Cruise passengers can therefore learn about the theory of tectonic plates, the history of Newfoundland and Labrador, new technologies likely to better measure the thickness of the ice, and the challenges faced by the seabirds of the East, to ways of identifying whales, ways to minimize the impacts of climate change and Inuit legends.
PHOTO MARIE TISON, THE PRESS
The ship Ocean Endeavor explores the Labrador coast on an Adventure Canada cruise.
An experience that has a price
Obviously, all this expertise and all this organization comes at a cost. Cruises to the Nordic regions are all expensive, especially when we are talking about a small ship that can accommodate a maximum of 198 passengers. For a two-week cruise, you should budget something like US$11,795 (approximately $16,190 CAN) for a seat in an interior cabin, and US$19,095 (approximately $26,210 CAN) for a seat in a cabin large in size. There are cheaper cabins available, but they are so few in number that you have to plan well in advance to get your hands on one.
Please note that all activities, excursions and meals are included in the price.
PHOTO MARIE TISON, THE PRESS
The further north the ship goes, the more icebergs become present.
Some destinations require charter flights, which can increase the bill. However, it is possible to get discounts if you buy several cruises in the same year, if you book your next cruise while you are on board, or if you have already traveled with Adventure Canada.
Moreover, a very large proportion of cruise passengers on board have already taken another trip with the small company. And many take two cruises in a row.
PHOTO MARIE TISON, THE PRESS
We’re talking about an expedition cruise here. To get to dry land, you generally have to take a zodiac.
You still have to have a taste for adventure. In the Far North, it is sometimes necessary to modify the route due to weather conditions. And landings usually involve a zodiac transfer from ship to shore. The trip takes place in English.
After our cruise along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador last July, theOcean Endeavor continued its path in the Arctic, notably in Greenland and in the Northwest Passage. He passed through Newfoundland and Labrador again in September, when the colors were magnificent.
As for Randy Edmunds, he is returning home after this cruise. “Only a few more days and I’m going to go fishing!” »
The costs of this trip were largely paid by Adventure Canada, which had no control over the content of this report.
Visit the Adventure Canada website