Otterville man presented with Governor General’s Medal

Whitney Lackenbauer. (Contributed Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

An Otterville man was presented recently with the Governor General’s Polar Medal.

Whitney Lackenbauer received the Polar Medal from Governor General Mary Simon in May. An author of 70 books, many on the Arctic, his quick answer for the connection to the country’s north is “a longstanding fascination I’ve had with the Arctic”. He is also a professor at Trent University and the Canada Research Chair in Study of the Canadian North.

Growing up in Kitchener, Lackenbauer attributes his Arctic fascination to watching his favourite movie, “The Empire Strikes Back” and its Arctic scenes. He came to Otterville in 2002 after marrying Jennifer Arthur, and they live on a farm that’s been in her family more than 100 years. He completed his PhD at the University of Calgary from 1998 to 2002, then moved back to Ontario in 2002. He was with the University of Waterloo for 15 years, and then Trent for the last eight.

Trained as a historian and professor of Canadian studies, Lackenbauer’s books also cover local history, such as a book he co-wrote with his wife on the impact of the First World War on Norwich Township families.

“I’m able to blend my interest in history, as well as current politics and current issues,” he said. “I like Canadian studies because it allows me to be broad and be wide-ranging in my research.”

He is also a believer that if you are going to work with northerners, it has to be done in partnership with them. He also spends a lot of time in other Arctic countries, such as Greenland and Scandinavia.

“I’ve always been a big fan of the idea that if you are going to write about a place you have to go and visit it, and if you are going to write about people, you have to interact with them,” he said.

Lackenbauer estimated he spends about one-quarter of the year in the Arctic, although not consecutively. He spent July 2025 on northern Ellesmere Island with the Canadian Rangers at Canadian Forces Base Alert. The group was seeing how far it could operate out using ATVs and was also looking for potential sites for the defence projects being planned.

After spending last fall traveling to conferences on the Arctic, Lackenbauer returned to the north to join the Rangers on three segments of a 5,200-kilometer patrol that took 53 days. During winter patrols, temperatures can dip as low as -40 or -50˚C with wind chill.

“It is imperative not to have a square centimeter of skin showing, because in those extreme temperatures it freezes immediately,” Lackenbauer said. “And it can be quite the mental exercise to keep wiggling fingers and toes so that they don't freeze up - no matter how good one’s boots and mitts.”

Lackenbauer has worked with the Canadian Rangers for the last 25 years, and is an Honorary Lt. Colonel for First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. This military group encompasses Inuit, First Nations and Metis and spans the three northern territories and northern BC. Rangers’ members are permanently in their communities, and serve as the military’s eyes, ears and voice in the north.

“Day to day they’re volunteers in their communities who are both passing along information if they see something out of the ordinary, but are also prepared if there is a community emergency,” he said. “They also serve in long-range patrols, demonstrating the ability of the CAF to project out over the most remote parts of Canada.”

Lackenbauer said one of the unique things is the Rangers use their personal vehicles – ATVs, snowmobiles, horses and boats – for their patrols, with government assistance to purchase the equipment.

“The beauty is they’re able to invest in their own equipment,” Lackenbauer said. “They know it works in their area and can use it in their everyday lives.”

The Rangers members' only armament is Tikka T3x bolt-action rifles.

“There are no scenarios out there where Canada faces an enemy opposition coming over the pole,” Lackenbauer explained. “Rangers need to be equipped with rifles for safety. There’s creatures like polar bears, so you need to be armed to ensure you’re safe.”

However, if there ever were armed conflict, the Rangers would be lawful combatants.

Over the last couple of years, Lackenbauer has been to Singapore, Greenland, Rio de Janeiro, and London, England, to speak on Arctic issues.