Hudson Bay

The training expedition travels over 1,380km from Gillam, Manitoba to Moose Factory, Ontario to test the vehicles and train the team. The route includes a float down the Nelson River to Port Nelson, visiting York Factory, and traveling along the coast of Hudson Bay to Moose Factory. The team is coordinating with Manitoba and Ontario to ensure proper permits are gained prior to departure.

Polar Bear

In October, the team flew the route from Gillam to past Cape Tatnam on Hudson Bay. Over 200 polar bears were counted along the shoreline. The science objective of the expedition is to collect data using a polar bear visual recognition software being developed by team members. Scientists and wildlife experts from the Manitoba and Ontario governments and indigenous communities on the route will be part of the expedition team.

The software and collected data will be made available to natural resource and citizen-scientists for use in further polar bear research.

The Route 

The line in the picture is a representation of the general route. The team will drive from Winnipeg, MB to Gillam, MB to start down the Nelson River.

At the end of the expedition, the team will take the Polar Bear Express to Cochrane, ON.

We will continuously update the route map as things evolve.