Tag: Explorers Club

Jett Britnell – Chapter Chair of The Explorers Club Canadian Chapter

Jett & Kathryn Britnell January 4, 2022June 4, 2022 Comments are off

Chapter Chair – The Explorers Club – Canadian Chapter

Well, New Year’s Day 2022 is the day I officially assumed the role and responsibilities of Chapter Chair of The Explorers Club- Canadian Chapter. While it all still seems a bit surreal to me, I’m comforted knowing that we have a group of extremely talented people on the Canadian Chapter’s Executive Team. Tomorrow it’s “Ahead warp factor one“…because all things in life should be more about the voyage… than the destination.

“I Truly Never Imagined Any Of This”

Scuba News Canada Story: Link

Life As It Happens

A Big Thank You!

Jett & Kathryn Britnell December 31, 2020January 4, 2022 Comments are off

Jett Britnell diving in Pavilion Lake BC Photo by Michel Joseph e1625801221657

Changing of the Guard

On December 31, 2020, my 2-year term as Explorers Club Regional Director, BC / Yukon, Canadian Chapter, came to an end. I would like to seize this opportunity to formally welcome Sunniva Sorby MI’19, as the new Regional Director, BC / Yukon. Since I assumed the role in January 2019, among several other things, we endeavoured to create greater awareness in the community about the Explorers Club. We were able to achieve this prior to the global pandemic literally shut public gatherings down by presenting two public Explorers Talk events; one large event at the Vancouver Aquarium in November 2019 and another smaller one at the Fjallraven store in Vancouver during February 2020. I extend my deepest gratitude to the entire Executive Team of The Explorers Club Canadian Chapter. I can’t thank you all enough and I feel that I have made some lifelong friends in the process. In particular, to George Kourounis for his stalwart leadership and support. One of the benefits of this role was getting to know George on a deeper personal level.

It Takes a Village

I would also like to give a huge shout out to the following BC / Yukon Explorer Club members for their steadfast support, assistance, and encouragement over the past two years: Coleen Clancy, Rosemarie & Pat Keough MED’02, Maeva Gauthier TM’17, Lee Treloar MI’09, Craig Minielly MI’18, Phil Nuytten FI’85, Isabelle Groc FI’19, Jude Isabella FI’19, John Pollack FI’06, Ray Hyland MI’12, Cathie Hickson FI’05, David Byng FI’07, and Kathryn Britnell FI’19. Thank you, one and all!

Explorers Talk evening hosted by Jett Britnell – Nov 5th 2019, Aqua quest Theatre at Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Canada

Happy 2021!

I wish everyone and their families a safe 2021 and a swift end to this global pandemic so we can all more freely continue to exercise our instincts to explore.

With kind regards,

Jett Britnell, FI’16

Life As It Happens

Explorers Talk Memories

Jett & Kathryn Britnell March 13, 2020March 13, 2020 Comments are off

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” ~ William Arthur Ward

On the same day we learned the 116th Explorers Club Annual Dinner in New York City slated for March 21st had been postponed until October 10th due to growing concerns over the outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Winter 2020 Issue of The Explorers Log arrived in the mail.

As I thumbed through the pages, I came across the pages containing highlights from the various chapters. A thank you to my friend and Canadian Chapter Chair, George Kourounis, who gave us and the Explorer Club Fellows (Phil Nuytten, Isabelle Groc & Jude Isabella) who presented at our “Explorers Talk” evening last November at the Vancouver Aquarium’s Theatre.

As people know, I was hospitalized in September and was still recovering from the after effects of a severe blood infection in the weeks leading up to this event. Some asked… understandably given my physical condition at the time… if I was going to cancel the event? In true “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” fashion, that thought never entered my mind. However, I did contemplate the real possibility that I might not have sufficiently recovered in time? But I knew something nobody else knew? I had an Ace of Hearts up my sleeve in the personage of Kathryn Britnell who is also an Explorers Club Fellow. There is no one else who I would have asked to speak and present on my behalf. Fortunately, I did not have to play my Ace of Hearts card.

Thanks for the reminder George. It was a great event supported by several others who also brought their A Game. And, Oh my, every presentation left me wanting more.

Life As It Happens

Explorers Talk: The Morning After

Jett & Kathryn Britnell November 7, 2019January 4, 2022 Comments are off

The Gods Were Smiling

It hit me last night soon after I started Explorers Talk with some opening comments. Kathryn had just introduced the first speaker, Jude Isabella, Chief Editor of Hakai Magazine, when it occurred to me that all the months of organizing, coordinating and preparation leading up to this evening was all in the lap of the gods now. Jude was about 2 minutes into her presentation and I’m sitting in the audience thinking… “Ohhh, this is good!” Clearly, the gods were smiling.

Indeed, the Explorers Club – Canadian Chapter Fellows from the BC / Yukon Region who had graciously agreed to give presentations all knocked it out of the park.

Jett Britnell gives opening remarks at Explorers Talk, Nov 5th 2019, Aquaquest Theatre at Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Canada. Photo by Craig Minielly.

Jude Isabella

Jude Isabella presented “Taking the Measure of a Mysterious Monkey” which was about the plight of Borneo’s fascinating Proboscis monkey.

Isabelle Groc

Isabelle Groc’s stunning photography visually illustrated her long-term study of Sea Otters in a presentation titled, “A Journey into the Sea Otter Coast.”

Phil Nuytten

Phil Nuytten’s presentation “Land that Devours Ships” was about the first High Arctic dives in 1981 on the Breadalbane (a British merchant ship which sank in the Barrow Strait near Nunavut’s Beechey Island in 1853) using the WASP, an atmospheric diving suit similar to the Newtsuit. Phil also gave us an enticing glimpse into some ongoing modern-day undersea exploration being conducted in Greece wherein the Hellenic Navy is surveying what has been called “the Titanic of the Ancient World,” the Antikythera treasure shipwreck.

Antikythera Mechanism

Among the sunken treasures discovered in this Roman-era shipwreck dating from the second quarter of the first century BC, was the celebrated “Antikythera Mechanism,” an ancient Greek analogue computer used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes decades in advance. All the statues and other treasures onboard when the vessel sank were gifts destined to be delivered to Julius Caesar. Just pause to think about that… gifts destined for Julius Caesar.

Phil Nuytten at Explorers Talk. Photo by Craig Minielly.

Time, He’s Waiting in the Wings

Our primary concern was to respect the audience’s time by not running overtime. As it turned out, we ended the three presentations with 30 minutes to spare. I asked the audience if they would like to see a brief presentation of some underwater images from British Columbia? It was unanimous, so I gave a presentation called, “Tropical Splendour…in a Cold Sea.” Afterwards, a heartfelt thank you to all… some gifts of appreciation for our speakers… and wham bam… we had all exited the theatre spot on time at 9PM.

Jett Britnell presenting, Nov 5th 2019, Aquaquest Theatre at Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Canada. Photo by Craig Minielly.

The Audience

We are filled with gratitude to all who attended Explorers Talk. Some attendees came from as far away as Abbotsford, Whistler, Salt Spring Island and Vancouver Island. Apart from the Explorers Club members who came, I feel we succeeded in creating greater awareness about the The Explorers Club through our outreach to the general public with this event.

Explorers Talk audience. Photo by Craig Minielly.

Kathryn Britnell

No event of this magnitude just happens, nor is it the reflection of work by just one person. Along with the speakers, the Vancouver Aquarium supported us in providing a theatre and Audio Visual and Security personnel at a price far below what they usually charge. My multi-talented wife, Kathryn, coordinated the event insurance through SBC Insurance Agencies Ltd., and also took on the duties of introducing each speaker and inviting them to the stage.

Our Volunteers

We also were the beneficiaries of support from three amazing volunteers. We enlisted the assistance of local photo pro, Nikon Ambassador, and TEC Member, Craig Minielly to photograph the event. In return for his photographic prowess, I promised him he would be handsomely rewarded with EXPOSURE (yes, we both chuckled over that). Coleen Clancy, TEC’s Social Media Goddess, performed her social media voodoo during the event, took some photos, and supported us in promoting Explorers Talk in the days and weeks leading up to the event. Coleen messaged me last night, “I have more that I will post tomorrow. Thanks again! It was a great night. My friend Erzsi now wants to become a member.” And last, but certainly not least, our friend and fellow Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellow, Ruby Banwait, answered our call to check off names on the guest list as people arrived. Craig, Coleen and Ruby, you are the best! Thank you for your friendship and support in helping to make Explorers Talk a success.

Explorers Talk evening with Phil Nuytten. Photo by Craig Minielly.

Inhale love, Exhale Gratitude

Well, that as they say, is a wrap. There were several people in the audience who enthusiastically wanted to know when the next Explorers Talk will be? Good question? As I said to Kathryn over a late dinner last night, that question is somewhat akin to asking a mother just moments after she has given birth… “When are you going to have your next baby?” In that moment, you just want to absorb what just happened. Ask me again… in a few months. At this moment… I’m inhaling love… and exhaling gratitude.

Life As It Happens

Explorers Talk At The Vancouver Aquarium, November 5th!

Jett & Kathryn Britnell August 6, 2019 Comments are off

Explorers Talk!

It is my distinct pleasure that I can now formally announce who the speakers will be for “Explorers Talk” on November 5th, at the Vancouver Aquarium Theatre. In no particular order, they are:

Jude Isabella, FI’19

Jude is Founder and Editor in Chief of Hakai Magazine, a magazine focused on science and society in coastal ecosystems. As a freelancer, she writes about science and the environment for readers young and old. Her book, “Salmon: A Scientific Memoir” (2014), explores the human relationship with Pacific salmon and chronicles her discoveries and thoughts collected over a four-year period in the field with scientists who study British Columbia’s coastal ecosystem.

Isabelle Groc, FI’13

Award-winning environmental writer and conservation photographer, Isabelle Groc shares her passion for everything wild, big and small, on land, in water, on the move. Her work focuses on environmental science, wildlife natural history and conservation, endangered species, marine mammals and ecosystems, and the changing relationships between people and the natural world. She aims to create engaging stories that increase our understanding and awareness of conservation issues and inspire change.

Phil Nuytten, FI’85

A recipient of the Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia, internationally recognized pioneer in the diving industry, Phil Nuytten has spent 40 years creating deep-water dive products that have opened the ocean’s depths to exploration and industry. Among his many pursuits Phil is an inventor; scientist; Sub-sea engineer; commercial diver; deep-sea explorer; author; carver and native advocate; entrepreneur; designer of the Newtsuit and the Exosuit; publisher of DIVER Magazine, the longest-established scuba magazine in North America; President of Nuytco Research; opened his ﬁrst dive store in 1957; founded Can-Dive Service in 1966; co-founder of Oceaneering International in 1969; took part in the ﬁrst saturation dive under polar ice; took part in the ﬁrst mixed-gas dives under polar ice; given the name Tlaxwsam (Red Snapper) by the Kwakwaka’wakw tribe. Yes, we’re willing to take a chance on this multi-talented local kid who announced back in September 2018 that he was designing, and planned to build, an underwater human settlement off of the coast of Vancouver, Canada in the Pacific Ocean.

It is with immense gratitude that I extend our deepest thanks to all three of these Explorers Club Fellows for generously agreeing to participate in the Explorers Club, Canadian Chapter, BC / Yukon Region’s first Explorers Talk event. Many thanks also to all who put their name forward.

Jett Britnell FI’16, FRCGS, FRGS

Regional Director BC/Yukon
Canadian Chapter
The Explorers Club