Prince George, B.C. –  Solving one of the great mysteries in the history of  Canadian exploration will be the highlight of the Bob Ewert  Memorial Lecture and Dinner to be held  next April.

Wreckage of ‘Terror’ image courtesy Parks Canada

Dr. Martin Magne, recently with Parks Canada, will deliver the keynote lecture.  Dr. Magne has been leading a team of underwater archaeologists exploring the mystery of the ill-fated 1845 Franklin Expedition. The Parks Canada Underwater Archaeology Team located HMS Erebus in September 2014, submerged in Wilmot and Crampton Bay, more than 160 years after the ship went missing. On September 12, 2016, the wreck of the second ship, HMS Terror, was found 100 kilometres away in Nunavut’s Terror Bay. The story is of special significance given Canada’s sesquicentennial anniversary of confederation in 2017.

“We are excited to have Dr. Magne as our speaker in conjunction with Canada’s 150^th anniversary,” said Dr. David Nelson, president of the Northern Medical Society. “He will provide insights on the events surrounding Sir John Franklin’s hunt for a Northwest Passage, and a key chapter in Canadian history.”

The Ewert Dinner is the largest fundraiser for the Northern Medical Programs Trust, which assists students at UNBC in the Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program, the Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) program, and the Northern Medical Program.

“The tradition of the Ewert Dinner is vital to the development of health education that gives future practitioners a better understanding of Canada’s issues and needs,” said UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks. “Together with our Trust partners, we are focused on providing students with the knowledge and experiences needed to help lead health innovation in rural and remote Canada.”

To date, the Trust has provided more than 500 grants to help health-care students pursue unique clinical placements in northern and rural communities as part of their studies.

The annual Ewert event honours Dr. Bob Ewert, the first medical specialist to practice in Prince George. The dinner is set for April 8th at the  Prince George Civic Centre.  Tickets are $125 each and  are available by clicking here.