WHEN THE VICTORIA STRAIT Expedition takes to the water this August, some of the brightest minds in resource exploration will be part of the expedition for the first time. Shell Canada has joined the larger partnership in conjunction with The Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

“Exploration is a central part of our business,” says Cameron Yost, a spokesperson for Shell Canada. “It’s how we develop new resources. Our company leads the world in Arctic oil and gas exploration.”

Partnering in the expedition was an obvious choice for Shell Canada. The company has been operating in Canada for more than a century, and has a strong presence in the North.

“It was a natural fit for us,” says Yost. “We have a long history in Canada. We know how important the Franklin Expedition is to Canadians, and how much a find would mean for the country as a whole.”

A longtime supporter of geographical education and literacy — principally through program’s such as The Classroom Energy Diet Challenge, which is produced in cooperation with the RCGS — Shell’s commitment to the expedition won’t end if Franklin’s vessels are located; Yost says the company plans to help ensure that the story of the expedition, and of this summer’s search, is known by students throughout the country.

“We’re extremely proud that we’re able to work alongside The Royal Canadian Geographical Society to take what we learn from this summer’s expedition to educators across Canada.”