Early risers in Canada have a chance to see our founder and Chief Expedition Officer, Graham Dickson, interviewed live on CTV’s Canada AM this morning. Look for him at around 8:40 AM EST.

And in case you missed it, Graham’s interview with CBC’s Ian Hanomansing is now online. You can watch it on the CBC’s website.

And of course, Disneynature’s Oceans opens today in North America! As Ian Hanomansing points out in his interview with Graham, all the footage from the Arctic in the film is from Canada, and we’re proud to have played an instrumental role in obtaining that footage. I, for one, can’t wait to see the finished product!

Happy Earth Day!

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I’m sending this update from the field using a BGAN inmarsat satellite internet modem. We are currently in the middle of an exploratory expedition to the north east side of Ungava Bay of Nunavik, Quebec in search of polar bears via snowmobiles and helicopter. Below are pictures of our new camp design – rigid dome polar bear proof structures as well as some of the wildlife we have seen. It has been nothing short of spectacular with over 28 polar bears seen in 2 days – some cubs as young as only a few months old, and some yearling cubs. In addition, we also flew over 14 or so Torngat Caribou – one of the only caribou herds that do not migrate;. Finally, we witnessed a stunning display of the shimmering northern lights for hours on end last night. It’s been a great few days with still a few more to go. Stay tuned… but in the meantime, enjoy the pictures!

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This morning, I got an email from Graham with the current location of the Torngat expedition party. And sure enough, when Thomas checked in via the AK Expedition Twitter feed, he noted that the group was at base camp:

AT TORNGAT BASECAMP WITH FIRST GROUP OF FOUR. A RAINY DAY BUT SPIRITS ARE HIGH. TOMORROW A DAY OF LOOKING FOR POLAR BEAR!

This expedition is new for this year, timed to coincide with polar bear mothers leaving their dens. The group is also hoping for some fantastic northern light displays, and sure of some amazing scenery among Eastern Canada’s highest mountain peaks!

We hope to get some field photos soon, and expect to hear more from Thomas via Twitter in the coming days!

(Edited to add: that image above is from Google Maps, and shows the area during the summer. Right now, a more current aerial image would look a lot whiter!)

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You don’t have to wait until April 22 to start enjoying Océans, the documentary about the world’s oceans that we’re so proud to have been a part of. The companion book is out in stores, with photos, text, and even behind-the-scenes shots of what it took to film in some of the most challenging environments on earth.

Not just an authoritative, wide-ranging guide to the world’s oceans, this is also a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse of practical film-making under demanding, often difficult, sometimes downright dangerous conditions… and, last but by no means least, it’s a clear-eyed, timely, persuasive preview of future seas: what we might have if we act now–and what we will surely get if we don’t.

The book is available through online retailers, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, or ask for it at your local bookstore!

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In this month’s issue:
2011 Trip dates released
More to Love: Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
Arctic Kingdom…now Airing in…!
Artist Richard Moat and Arctic Kingdom ink drawings
Nunavut Quest 2010 – Pond Inlet to Clyde River
Upcoming 2010 Trip Availability

Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news on upcoming expeditions, special deals, and reports from the field. It’s easy! Just enter your email address into the subscription box below.

– Thomas

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All this weekend, we’re at the Outdoor Adventure Show at Toronto’s International Centre. Stop by the booth for information on our expeditions, to check out the gear we’re offering for sale, or just to hear some stories from the ice! Visit the Adventure Show website for hours and directions.

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We like outdoor adventures.

This Friday through Sunday, Arctic Kingdom will be at Toronto’s Outdoor Adventure Show, Canada’s largest outdoor adventure expo. Visit our booth to get information about our expeditions and trips, get some great deals on expedition gear, or just say hello!

The Adventure Show will be at the International Centre, near Pearson International Airport. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $12, or you can save money by purchasing advance tickets online. Visit the Adventure Show website for hours and details, including directions to the venue.

Hope to see you there!

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If you subscribe to our newsletter, you’ve already heard about Océans, actor, director and producer Jacques Perrin’s exploration of the 71 percent of the earth’s surface that is covered by the sea.

A recent story in Time notes,

[The] spectacular new French maritime documentary. . . has done not only twice as much business as [the George Clooney vehicle] Up in the Air since both movies were released on Jan. 27, but is also looking to set a new mark for nature films when it rolls out internationally in the coming months.

Océans is no Jacques Cousteau rehash, and its environmental message, while alarming, doesn’t impose the sense of doom central to recent films like Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth or Frenchman Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s Home. Instead it seduces the viewer to the maritime cause with awe-inspiring imagery, creating an almost emotional attachment between viewer and cinematic object by bringing the camera into astonishing intimacy with erstwhile unapproachable beings. At one point, a mother walrus hugs her baby protectively as she swims. At another, a diver caresses and plays with an 18-foot, 1-ton great white shark nicknamed “Lady Mystery.”

As we noted in our November 2009 newsletter, we’re proud to have worked with Océans’ producers and filmakers throughout the Arctic, helping them to get some of the spectacular footage that has made this one of the most exciting nature documentaries to hit the international scene in recent years. The film hits North American theaters this Earth Day (April 22, 2010). We can’t wait to see the finished product!

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Our first newsletter for 2010 is online! Check it out here.

Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news on upcoming expeditions, special deals, and reports from the field. It’s easy! Just enter your email address into the subscription box below.

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The November 2009 Newsletter was just released. The direct link to the newsletter can be found here.

In this months issue:

• Introducing: The “Land-tamer”…the what?
• NEW Exploratory Trip: Polar Bears of Devon Islands ‘Bear Bay’ by Land-tamer
• AK Video Gallery – now live!
• Disney Nature and Galatée Films present:  OCEANS – the Film
• AK Adventurer Profile: Robyn Mulgrew
• Ice Dive Training in the Great Lakes – by Airboat!
• Canada Goose Store – Gently Used?
• Group / Private Booking Program

Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news on upcoming expeditions, special deals, and reports from the field. It’s easy! Just enter your email address into the subscription box below.

– Thomas

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