Category Life As It Happens

“A Life in the Depths!” Presentation

Jett & Kathryn Britnell December 21, 2018April 11, 2019 Comments are off

“Overture, curtain, lights. This is it, the night of nights. No more rehearsing and nursing a part. We know every part by heart.” ~ This Is It (Bugs Bunny, Overture).

Tess Hedderich over at Vancouver Diving Locker has invited Kathryn and I to give an evening presentation at the shop on Friday, January 25th, 2019. Actually, one of the first dive store presentations I ever made was at the Diving Locker way back in early 2008. Clearly, we’re being brought back by popular demand. And hey, what better way to start your weekend? Anyway, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel. Be there or be square. ?

Life As It Happens

Kathryn Britnell: Elected Fellow to Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 2, 2018April 8, 2019 Comments are off

Nothing is given. Eveyrthing is earned.

Yesterday, Kathryn, was inducted into the College of Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Fellowship in the RCGS College of Fellows has, since its inception in 1929, represented the very best of Canada, including distinguished individuals from many different fields, united in their commitment to the Society’s mission to celebrate the country, its geography and peoples. All RCGS Fellows are considered to be exceptional talents and leaders in their respective fields and their ranks include many of Canada’s most intrepid explorers, geographers, astronauts, actors, and even some former Prime Ministers. Fellows are elected for life and are entitled to use post-nominal letters FRCGS (Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society) after their surname. There are only about 1,000, or so, RCGS Fellows in this magnificent nation of just over 36.5 million people.

Life As It Happens

Adams River Salmon Expedition

Jett & Kathryn Britnell October 23, 2018April 11, 2019 Comments are off

Adams River Salmon Expedition

It’s been a successful few days for us here at Adams River. I feel, Kathryn deserves a shout-out of sorts for all her efforts over the past couple of days. From hauling snorkeling and camera gear down a steep forest canyon to the river, jumping in for several hours to photograph salmon, then hauling everything back uphill… only this time it feels so much heavier than when you arrived because everything is now wet. The next day carefully sliding down a vertical river bank in her drysuit, and then fording across the shallowest point in the stream to reach a gravel island, but given her shorter stature she was already thigh deep in a stiff forceful current where it took everything she had not to get knocked over (Hell, it was no cake walk for me either). Then she goes splashing around in cold river water pursuing sockeye salmon.

Indeed, the water feels colder with each passing hour. Then at the end of the day, reversing course only to feel like the stream has picked up speed since the morning crossing… and then one must carefully climb back up that vertical river bank which provides very little firm footing. Of course, there is also the long walk back to the parking lot…. carrying everything you brought with you to the river. Never a complaint, never a “I can’t do this,” never not carrying her own weight. She absolutely loved every minute of it which says a lot for someone who describes herself as being a girly girl. The force is strong with this one.

Life As It Happens Exploration

Congratulations Kathryn!

Jett & Kathryn Britnell July 20, 2018April 10, 2019 Comments are off

Kathryn Britnell is an RGS Fellow

So very proud and happy for my wife, Kathryn, as she received confirmation today that she has been named a Fellow of London’s prestigious Royal Geographical Society (RGS) with the Institute of British Geographers. Fellowship is reserved for those who can demonstrate their academic publications in the field of geography and closely related subjects such as climate change. Fellows in the Royal Geographical Society may use the post-nominal designation FRGS after their names.

UK’s Learned Society and Professional Body for Geography

Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences, the Royal Geographical Society is the UK’s learned society and professional body for geography. The RGS has a storied history of supporting many famous British explorers and expeditions, including those of, Sir Charles Darwin, legendary African explorer Dr. David Livingstone, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Sir Robert Scott, Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin, and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary to name a few. Among many other notable explorers and geographers, current fellows also include Michael Palin who was the president of the RGS from 2009 to 2012. Since 1912, the RGS and historical archives have been headquartered at Lowther Lodge, a Victorian Queen Anne style house built from 1872 and 1875 that faces Hyde Park in South Kensington, London, England.

Life As It Happens

Explore the Sights and Tastes of Canada!

Jett & Kathryn Britnell April 19, 2018April 25, 2019 Comments are off

Explore the Sights and Tastes of Canada

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), along with their Fellows who reside in British Columbia, are presenting a unique event in Vancouver on Tuesday, May 15th. Come explore the Sights and Tastes of Canada and meet and chat with RCGS Fellows, partners, friends, and some of Canada’s greatest explorers at Vancouver’s historic Terminal City Club. The evening includes a cocktail reception, an exquisite three-course meal highlighting seasonal Canadian cuisine, silent auction and a door prize. Attendees will also be entertained by new RCGS Explorer-in-Residence, Adam Shoalts, who will recount his 2017 solo trek across Canada’s Arctic.

Limited Seating Available

Limited seating available. For more information and tickets, follow the web link below. RCGS.ORG/VANCOUVERGALA

About The Royal Canadian Geographical Society

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is dedicated to promoting and enhancing public awareness for Canadian geography, and to strengthening the bond between Canadians and their diverse and vast geographical heritage.

Life As It Happens

Philippines Pearl Market

Jett & Kathryn Britnell December 8, 2017April 11, 2019 Comments are off

“Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow; he who would search for pearls must dive below.”

John Dryden (1631–1700) All for Love. Prologue

Well, there’s truly no need to dive to great depths anymore because you can shop till ya drop and find pearls galore at the famed Philippines Pearl Market located at the Greenhills Mall in Manila. Definitely a “must see” when in the Philippines. If you dare to take your spouse, or significant other, be sure to bring a pocketful of pesos.

Life As It Happens

A Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows Get Together

Jett & Kathryn Britnell December 1, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

A small informal gathering of Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) Fellows got together for dinner last night at Gastown’s Steamworks Brew Pub in Vancouver. The evening was organized and hosted by Gilles Gagnier, Chief Operating Officer and Publisher of Canadian Geographic Magazine, and Jason Muscant, Director of Advancement, Fellows Committee, Awards, Research and Grants, Expeditions.

Among the RCGS Fellows in attendance were, Daisy Gilardini, Francois-Xavier DeRuydts, Aaron Salus, Pridiu Juurand and Melanie Knight along with special guests David McEown and Jillian Salus. Certainly, a welcome opportunity to meet an overall talented group of Canadians.

Life As It Happens

Jett Britnell Elected “Fellow” ~ Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 16, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

“It is clear that with your background, experience, and interests, you would be an ideal candidate for Fellowship.”

~ Royal Canadian Geographical Society

On November 16th, 2017, I was elected a Fellow of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). The RCGS College of Fellows includes many of Canada’s eminent explorers, astronauts, writers, geographers, scientists, artists, anthropologists, soldiers, business leaders, historians, educators and even some former Prime Ministers. RCGS Fellows are deemed to have distinguished themselves by directly contributing to scientific knowledge in the field of geography, geographical exploration or allied sciences (i.e., archaeology, atmospheric sciences, marine biology, zoology, etc.). Such accomplishments are evidenced by published books, scientific publications or major mainstream media coverage documenting fieldwork, or exploration. In the Society’s own words:

“Making Canada Better Known To Canadians And The World.”

“Fellowship in the College has, since its inception in 1929, represented the very best of Canada, including distinguished individuals from many different fields, united in their commitment to the Society’s mission to celebrate the country, its geography and peoples.”

There were 892 active Royal Canadian Geographical Fellows as of June 30, 2017, including 80 Honorary Fellows. Today, they added 86 more Fellows. RCGS Fellows are entitled to use post-nominal letters FRCGS (Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society) after their surname.

Truly, beyond words.

I’m deeply honoured and look forward to making significant contributions to Canada’s centre for Geography and Exploration, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, for many years to come.

Life As It Happens

Blessed to Have Married My Best Friend

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 13, 2017March 24, 2019 Comments are off

In Memoriam Life As It Happens

Remembrance Day: In Flanders Fields.

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 5, 2017July 22, 2021 Comments are off

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918)

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918) is remembered for what is probably the single best-known and popular poem from World War I,“In Flanders Fields.” On May 3, 1915, Canadian physician, McCrae penned his most famous poem after witnessing the death of his friend, 22-year-old Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before. McCrae was a Canadian physician who fought on the Western Front in 1914, but was then transferred to the medical corps and assigned to a hospital in France. He died of pneumonia while on active duty in 1918. McCrae’s rank was Major when he composed “In Flanders Fields.” He was up for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel when he died in January 1918.

As McCrae wrote his poem, Sergeant-Major Cyril Allinson was delivering mail when he noticed McCrae sitting at the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Yser Canal, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, Belgium. Allinson silently watched as McCrae wrote his poem and later recalled, “His face was very tired but calm as he wrote. He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer’s grave.” Within moments, John McCrae had completed his poem to a fallen friend and when he was done, without a word, McCrae took his mail and handed the poem to Allinson.

An exact description of the battle front

Allinson was deeply moved. “In Flanders Fields was an exact description of the battle front. McCrae used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene.” A collection of his poetry, “In Flanders Fields and Other Poems), was published after John McCrae’s death in 1918.On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians pause each year in memory of the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service. Lest We Forget, that in Flanders fields the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row.

(Play Nice In The Sandbox, Kids. Ask, Don't Steal)