Bernard Voyer

Born in Rimouski, Québec, Bernard Voyer is a veteran explorer and celebrated speaker with over 30 years of expeditions and exploits under his belt, including four crossings of Baffin Island, the world's first crossing of Ellesmere Island, the first Canadian ski expedition to the North Magnetic Pole, and the first Canadian crossing of Greenland, over a distance of 650 km. Having traversed the Antarctic unassisted to reach the South Pole, he went on to scale the highest summits of all the continent, ascending to the top of Everest on May 5, 1999.

By teaming up with scientists for the majority of his expeditions, Bernard Voyer has broken new technological and scientific ground in the fields of composite material use, satellite technology, geology, glaciology, biology, and nutrition. A captivating speaker with a talent for popularizing science, Voyer has given hundreds of lectures in Canada and abroad to share his passion and experiences, inspire others, and encourage young people to pursue their dreams.

Voyer has been a co-chair of the Ordre de Montréal since 2016. He is also an ambassador for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, a member of the Polar Medal Advisory Comittee, and the Honorary Nepalese Consul in Montreal. He is very active with a number of organizations that support young people, including Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec (LOJIQ), the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, and Forces AVENIR.

Bernard Voyer has received numerous awards in recognition of his exceptional journey, his work with youth, and his dedication to education and environmental protection. He is a model of determination, courage, and the will to defy one's limits whose contribution to society and quest for great challenges have made him a source of inspiration to many.