By Glen Herbert

Adam Shoalts will be in residence at Rosseau Lake College this October. Named one of the “greatest living explorers” by Canadian Geographic, and named “Canada’s Indiana Jones” by the Toronto Star, Shoalts is a professional adventurer and the author of four national bestselling books.

His career has included mapping rivers, leading expeditions for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Mountain Equipment Co-op, archaeological digs, tracking endangered species, and completing a nearly 4,000 km solo journey across Canada’s Arctic. On his expeditions he sometimes goes months without seeing another person. In 2022, he canoed and hiked from southern Canada to the Arctic.

At Rosseau Lake College, Shoalts will be working with students on cartography—what maps mean, and what they say—as well as environmental stewardship. His visit culminates in an event open to the public where he’ll discuss his life and work. He’ll also be talking about his latest book, Where the Falcon Flies: A 3,400 km Odyssey From My Doorstep to the Arctic. The book was inspired looking out his porch window one spring morning when spotted a majestic peregrine falcon flying across the neighbouring fields near Lake Erie. He decided to follow the falcon’s route north on an astonishing 3,400-kilometre journey to the Arctic. The new book recounts that journey.

"There’s magic in the wild, if you allow yourself to feel it."

Shoalts grew up with a forest on his doorstep, where his father, a woodworker, taught him about trees. Together, they built birch bark canoes and anything else that could be crafted from the forest. His writing career began with his “Reflections of a Naturalist” column on wild animals and conservation, which later led to his #1 national best-sellers Alone Against the North and Beyond the Trees, the award-winning story of his adventures.

The residency is one of an ongoing series held on campus at RLC. Speakers are invited who reflect the values of the school, and who can speak to issues of interest to those in the region. 

Adam Shoalts will be speaking at Rosseau Lake College on October 24 at 7:30 p.m. For details and tickets, see www.rosseaulakecollege.com/events/adam-shoalts