The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) has awarded its first Ondaatje Medal* for outstanding exploration to world renowned Canadian diving and cave explorer Jill Heinerth
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Originally from Ontario where she developed an interest in exploring some of the caves along the Niagara Peninsula in southern Ontario, she later learned to dive further north in the Tobermory area between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay and began exploring underwater caves there.
Since then she has become a renowned expert in marine cave exploration, and underwater photography and research.
She also set the record for the furthest distance underground, underwater travelling over 3 km, 100 metres deep in the Wakulla cave complex in Florida.
Following that record setting effort, she has been sought out to help in a variety of research, and film projects in underwater environments around the world.
The changes she has noticed in lakes and oceans during her over twenty year career has resulting in creating the We Are Water Project with ongoing filming and development of free educational resources that help spreads water literacy, and about changes to the environment.
She is also planning a future 3,000 km snorkeling swim across the Arctic with the goal of raising world-wide awareness of rapidly disappearing sea ice, documenting the impacts of global warming on the fragile ecosystem and on the traditional way of life for the people of the North.
- *Established by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2013, the medal recognizes singular achievements and the pursuit of excellence by an outstanding Canadian explorer or a non-Canadian for exploratory achievements within Canada. The medal celebrates Sir Christopher Ondaatje, a renowned adventurer, author and philanthropist.
- The award is intended to continue the Society’s tradition of supporting and celebrating exploration and advance the Society’s mandate “to make Canada better known to Canadians and the world.
Jill Heinerth website- diving and artwork
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