From left, Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister of AI and Digital Innovation, Students on Ice Foundation founder and president Geoff Green, and former journalist Whit Fraser, the viceregal consort of Canada, at the NCC River House for SOI Foundation's 25th anniversary party and book launch. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From the ends of the earth to Ottawa’s River House: Students on Ice toasts 25 years and a new book
Students on Ice Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary of polar expeditions Wednesday by transforming the NCC River House into a ship of the imagination — complete with crew, curfew and sea stories — while launching its new book, Hearts Wide Open: Polar Journeys Inspiring Global Youth.
Alumni and supporters looked back on how thousands of young people have discovered both the planet and themselves through SOI Foundation and its Arctic and Antarctic explorations.
Since 2000, the Gatineau-based educational expeditions have taken youth to what president and founder Geoff Green refers to as “the greatest classrooms on earth,” with Mother Nature as “the best teacher.”
Green launched the SOI Foundation in an era before cell phones and social media, when global warming was still barely on most people’s radar. Students on Ice has since become a globally recognized educational program. Green has received numerous awards, including being appointed to the Order of Canada in 2012.
In the beginning, the journeys were about nature, culture, ice, biodiversity and inspiring youth, said Green. “It was all that and more, but it soon became something bigger: about connection, about young people from completely different worlds discovering they’re not so different at all, about standing together on a glacier and realizing we’re all in this together — metaphorically and literally.”
Said Green: “When I think about what we’ve really been teaching, it’s about how to be human together on a changing planet, and how to live sustainably in harmony with every living thing.”
Geoff Green, founder and president of Students on Ice Foundation, at the podium during the non-profit organization’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa’s Danielle Simpson from CHEO and Geoff Carran from Osgoode Properties came dressed in “expedition chic” attire for the 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, SOI Foundation videographer Mathieu Brunet, Anna Velasco, who’s part of the media team, Peter Wall (director of communications for the Ministry of AI and Digital Innovation) and Queen’s University environmental science student and SOI Foundation project assistant Rebecca Lipman at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Students on Ice Foundation alumnae formed a giant heart with their arms while posing in front of the photo wall at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Geoff Green, president and founder of Students on Ice Foundation, with Anna Velasco, a member of the media team, and his two children: Fletcher, 17, and Nellie, 14, at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House. Photo by Caroline Phillips
To date, the life-changing expeditions have involved thousands of young people travelling to the polar regions from more than 55 countries. Most are supported through scholarships, and more than 60 per cent of participants are Indigenous, said Green.
Governor General Mary Simon, who had planned to speak and offer her congratulations, was unable to attend due to illness. Her husband, Whit Fraser, attended in her place, reassuring the crowd: “Mary is going to be fine. For Christ’s sake, she’s the governor general — she’s getting good care.”
He added good-humouredly: “I’m here because I married well.”
Mary Simon, who in the 1990s served as Canada’s first Arctic ambassador, was among the earliest supporters of Green’s vision of bringing young people to the polar regions, not as tourists but to learn.
“She was all in, all the way, on day one and is still all in, all the way,” said Fraser.
“And so am I,” he added, acknowledging his initial skepticism as a journalist: he worked for years covering the North for CBC. “I admit it: I was wrong. And you know what happens to a convert — they become a zealot.”
Fraser, who serves as the viceregal consort of Canada, helped to present the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Gold Medal — its highest honour — to the SOI Foundation.
From left, SOI Foundation president and founder Geoff Green, alumni team lead Lynda Brown, SOI Foundation board advisor Victoria Grant, Royal Canadian Geographical Society representative Riley Schnurr, and Whit Fraser, the viceregal consort of Canada and husband of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, at the presentation of the RCGS’s Gold Medal to the SOI Foundation during its 25th anniversary and book launch party. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Some guests travelled far and wide to make the anniversary party, which called for “expedition chic” attire. Anna Velasco, a Vancouver-born producer with NBC News in New York City, attended. She’s part of the media team. “I wouldn’t miss this for anything,” she told CiTC.
Attendees included the Danish Ambassador to Canada, Nikolaj Harris; Canada’s first AI minister, Evan Solomon, whose wife, Tammy Quinn, is chief of staff with SOI Foundation; former federal environment minister Catherine McKenna; Leacross Foundation president Roslyn Bern; Parks Canada CEO Ron Hallman; Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe; National Capital Commissioner CEO Tobi Nussbaum; and Laura Reinsborough, Riverkeeper and CEO of Ottawa Riverkeeper, where Green serves as chair emeritus and is co-chairing its $5-million The Big River Give campaign.
Ashbury College head Norman Southward was there with a couple of his students who, having participated in the SOI program, called it “life-changing”.
Geoff Green, president and founder of the Students on Ice Foundation, and the Danish Ambassador to Canada, Nikolaj Harris, at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Carolyn Chisholm, head of government relations at Rio Tinto Canada, Parks Canada CEO Ron Hallman, former federal environment minister and author Catherine McKenna, and Tegan Schioler at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Whit Fraser, the viceregal consort of Canada, spoke on behalf of his wife, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who was ill, during the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Roslyn Bern, president of Leacross Foundation, with Ottawa Riverkeeper’s CEO, Laura Reinsborough (dressed in her “expedition chic” attire), at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ginny Sutcliffe, Susan Finlay, managing editor of the new SOI Foundation book Hearts Wide Open, and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Guests at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch raised their glasses in a toast. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Tammy Quinn, chief of staff at Students on Ice Foundation, and her husband, federal cabinet minister Evan Solomon, at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Velma McColl, principal at Earnscliffe Strategies, National Capital Commission CEO Tobi Nussbaum, and Nila Matthews, home realtor with Royal LePage Performance Realty, at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Fraser, a gifted storyteller, shared vivid memories from his time with SOI. One was of watching his wife sit in a field of Arctic wildflowers in northern Greenland with several Inuit girls, chatting in their first language, sharing stories and weaving flower chains. Another was riding in a Zodiac while watching renowned polar and oceanographic explorers Fred Roots and Don Walsh, respectively, in the neighboring inflatable boat interact with a group of SOI kids. “And they’re all on a first-name basis. Man, that’s a memory,” he said.
He also described listening to expert geologists talk about climate change while massive chunks of the Jakobshavn Glacier on Greenland’s west coast broke off and crashed into the water. Meanwhile, towering icebergs drifted by. The group paused to take in what Fraser called “the sounds of the world changing.”
“It’s not only ‘the greatest classroom on earth’ for the young,” he added with a knowing smile. “It’s a great classroom for the geezers of this world. I thank you for every moment.”
In honour of its 25 years, SOI Foundation released a new book full of stories and stunning photos. “Students on Ice isn’t just about going somewhere cold; it’s about opening hearts, building bridges and seeing the world and ourselves differently,” said the book’s managing editor, Susan Finlay, dressed in a captain’s jacket and with a large entourage of Westeindes out to show their support. Her husband is sustainable developer Jonathan Westeinde and her in-laws are Shirley and John Westeinde from the construction industry.
The foreword for Hearts Wide Open: Polar Journeys Inspiring Global Youth was written by the governor general, who described the SOI story as one of “vision and perseverance”.
Finlay wrapped up the formal part of the program with a celebratory toast, reciting an Irish proverb about the value of friendship: “There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, may they always be,” she said as everyone raised their glass.
Those who have never been on a SOI expedition got a glimpse into some of the magic that happens on these journeys, including the famous group hug — which made a well-received return that night.
Guests of the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch gathered for a giant group hug at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Hearts Wide Open editor Kiley Turner and managing editor Susan Finlay at Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, community volunteer Whitney Fox and family physician and associate professor Elizabeth Muggah at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Roslyn Bern, president of the Leacross Foundation, in the crowd with photographer, wilderness guide and outdoor educator Mike Beedell at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Shirley Westeinde and her son Jonathan Westeinde, CEO and founder Windmill Development Group, at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Norman Southward, head of Ashbury College, with two of his students, Alisa Sari and Olivia MacNeil, who are also Students on Ice Foundation alumnae, and SOI Foundation founder and president Geoff Green at SOI’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ocean researcher Lisa “Diz” Glithero (and Geoff Green’s partner) at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Whit Fraser, the viceregal consort of Canada, and home realtor Nila Matthews, at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Guest Carla Millar in her “expedition chic” attire at the 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Roger Bull from the Canadian Museum of Nature chatted with interior design and architecture expert Tania Armstrong at the 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Geoff Green, founder and president of Students on Ice Foundation, at the podium during the 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Roberta Walker and Sandy Foote, driving forces behind the non-profit organization La Fab sur Mill (La Fab) in Chelsea, at the Students on Ice Foundation’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Geoff Green, second from left, with his father, retired educator Stan Green, daughter Nellie, 14, Anna Velasco, son Fletcher, 17, and Rebecca Lipman at SOI’s 25th anniversary party and book launch, held at the NCC River House in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.
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