When modern-day voyageur Adam Shoalts (BA ’09) returns to his alma mater later this week, he will bring along stories from an epic adventure to share with the hundreds of people expected to attend. 

The Brock History graduate will tell the tale of his recent four-month journey across the Canadian Arctic during a talk held at the University Thursday, Dec. 7.

The amazing one-man expedition had Shoalts walk and canoe an incredible 4,000 kilometres across the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut — from the Alaska border to Hudson Bay.

“I’m excited to have the chance to share the story of my Arctic journey with a local audience,” said the 31-year-old Pelham native. “It will be a lot of fun to be back at the University. I know a lot of people in the Brock and Niagara communities followed my expedition’s progress across the Arctic, so it’s great to now have the chance to share that adventure with them.”

More than 200 people are expected to attend the event to hear Shoalts relive his experience and to see photos of the curious wildlife and challenging terrain he encountered along the way.

“Adam was always drawn to nature, the north and imagining Canada on a big canvas,” said Daniel Samson, Associate Professor and Chair of Brock’s Department of History who taught Shoalts during his time at the University. “He was drawn to environmental history and Canada’s colonial era. As an adventurer, he brings all that together, tracing the routes of indigenous, British and French fur traders.”

Associate Professor of History Michael Driedger was hopeful students in the crowd would draw inspiration from Shoalts’ unconventional path.

“The History department has an active and talented group of alumni,” he said. “Since graduating, they’ve become entrepreneurs, teachers, librarians and lawyers. But I can’t think of anyone who’s applied a Brock University history education in such an adventurous way as Adam Shoalts.

“His curiosity and creativity are exactly the kinds of traits that we want all of our students to cultivate — even if they don’t go to the Arctic.”

Alone Across Canada’s Arctic will take place Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in Brock’s Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. The event is co-sponsored by Brock University and the Department of History. Parking will be free in Lot D when guests indicate they’re on campus for the talk.

Following the talk, Shoalts will be signing copies of his new book, A History of Canada in Ten Maps: Epic Stories of Charting a Mysterious Land.

What: Alone Across Canada’s Arctic, a public talk and book signing

Who: Modern-day voyageur and Brock University History graduate Adam Shoalts

When: Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.

Where: Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Brock University

Tickets: There is no cost to attend the event, but tickets are required. Registration is available through the Department of History’s website.