Time Ripe To Remember Joseph-Elzear Bernier

"He saw at the time how valuable it was going to become," she noted. "If he had been English (Canadian), he would already have a monument with a plaque." The monument would be laid by the docks in Levis, across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City. Estimated to cost some $300,000, it would be made of bronze and stone. "Like Bernier (trying to reach the Arctic), I will do everything I can to get a monument worthy of him," Coude said. "He was the last Jacques Cartier - after him there were no more lands to claim." At the turn of the 20th century, Bernier finally persuaded the government of the need to claim the islands - such as Baffin and Ellesmere - amid obvious signs U.S. and European explorers were out to do the same. Canada is currently locked in a furious claims rush with Russia, the U.S., Denmark and Norway over parts of the Arctic. Many countries do not recognize Canada's sovereignty in the Northwest Passage. ... http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=ccf1c196-8161-4173-9b26-d063cdc98b54

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