Publisher: Harbour Publishing
Author: R. Bruce MacDonald
In Sisters of the Ice, R. Bruce Macdonald documents in vivid detail the adventurous histories of two ships, the St. Roch and North Star, as well as the history of the Northern communities in which they gained renown. Recounting daring escapes from dangerous ice conditions to thrilling sea voyages to raucous whaling towns, Macdonald reveals the perilous climate in which these vessels operated and the ties of Canadian identity that they helped forge.
Together, these two iconic ships helped unify Northern communities and solidify Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic.
The St. Roch, now on permanent display at the Vancouver Maritime Museum, is the better known of the two, although North Star of Herschel Island is still sailing and still adding to her legend thanks to the author who has owned the vessels for the past twenty-five years.
MacDonald has meticulously researched the origins and service logs of each ship and created a book that will enthrall old Arctic hands, maritime history buffs and anyone who appreciates well-written Canadian history.
About the author
R. Bruce MacDonald is a writer, sailor and artist with a passion for Canadian history. Macdonald has logged over 100,000 nautical miles and, for many years, has lived along the BC Coast aboard North Star of Herschel Island with his wife and children. He is also the author of North Star of Herschel Island (Friesen Press, 2012).