This classic line from the “Star Trek” television show of the 60’s and its subsequent films was undoubtedly not intended in history to exclude women. It was a statement only used for the times.
Each of these great Canadian women has had a positive effect on Canada in different ways. To name a few: Lucy Maude Montgomery, (author) Doris Anderson, (editor, Chatelaine) Kenojuak Ashevak (artist) Emily Carr (artist) Viola Desmond (racial equality) Margaret Laurence (Canadian literature) Judy LeMarsh (cabinet minister) Nellie McClung (women’s vote right Manitoba) and Betty-Pratt Johnson (scuba diver)
See The Scuba News Canada article on Betty-Pratt Johnson
In the underwater modern world, no woman has achieved more than Jill Heinerth, the leading cave diver to document it, and the first “person” to enter and film iceberg-cave environments in the Antarctic. She went further into underwater caves than any other human and created the first map of the 3D underwater cave system.
Jill’s many awards include Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s first Explorer in Residence, the recipient of the coveted Polar Medal of Canada, and a Fellow of the International Hall of Fame for Scuba Divers, and author of the best selling book “Into The Planet”. Jill received the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Discovery from the RCGS and the William Beebe Award from the Explorers Club in appreciation of her lifetime achievement.
Jill has now been proudly been added to the Canadian Geographic list of Canada’s 90 Greatest Explorers: Going Beyond
As an explorer, a researcher and an artist, few people have done more to develop our perception of deep-ocean ecosystems and the willingness of people to visit those areas, as Jill has. She is honoured to be a part of this list.
We at The Scuba News Canada congratulate her on her addition to this list.