Canadian Arctic scientist, John England received the Order of Canada for his fifty-year career. Image supplied.
Canadian Arctic scientist John England has been named to the Order of Canada for his lifelong contributions to research in the Canadian Arctic and environmental advocacy.
England is a professor emeritus in the University of Alberta's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, His career spans more than 50 years of research, including 45 field seasons, covering the entire Canadian Arctic Archipelago from Baffin Island in the east, to Ellesmere Island in the north, to Banks Island in the southwest.
"I've always been passionately Canadian," said England. "The Order of Canada is being recognized for a contribution to your country, and that's really special. It could easily be overlooked: all the things you've done, all the efforts you've made." England is one of 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada, announced last week by her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada.
A celebrated advocate for the importance of northern science and value of the Canadian Arctic landscape, England's work has captured 18,000 years of environmental and climatic history extending to the modern day, and he continues to push for a national polar policy-something he believes is long overdue.
"Canada has the largest expanse of Arctic territory on the planet," England explained. "This region has experienced the most dramatic impacts of any sector of the globe in relation to climate change, and these changes are happening more rapidly than ever previously anticipated. If ignored, it will affect all aspects of our lives, from basic security and agriculture to our economic prosperity."
Shaping the future
In addition to his own research, England has supervised more than 30 graduate students in Arctic research and works closely with Aurora College in Inuvik, Northwest Territories to provide training for Gwich'in and Inuvialuit students. His mentorship has culminated in 17 PhD theses, 13 MSc theses, and more than 100 peer-reviewed papers.
"Most rewarding of all is the opportunity to mentor graduate students who continue in their own careers and to simply have been able to cross a remarkably beautiful and intriguing landscape and to learn about it. This is something that contributes to the national identity and who we are as Canadians."
In November 2017, England was invited to give public lectures on Arctic environmental change by the Canadian embassy in Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo, and in 2018 provide the keynote address at a conference on Arctic Governance in Tokyo. The Order of Canada will ensure that his ongoing engagement with Arctic science will have a stronger voice.
The Order of Canada is the latest in an impressive list of accolades received by England throughout his career, including induction as a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Government of Canada's Northern Science Award and Centenary Medal, the Canadian Geographic Society 100 greatest explorers, Weston Family Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Northern Research, and the W. A. Johnston Medal from the Canadian Quaternary Association. The University of Alberta Faculty of Science is home to 12 Order of Canada recipients.