• Antarctica

  • Svalbard

  • Bahamas

  • British Columbia

  • Tahiti

  • Cozumel

In The PressLife As It Happens

Beyond the Byline | Jett & Kathryn Britnell, Third Age Expeditions

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Jett and Kathryn Britnell Interview Luxe Beat

“Together they are one of the most remarkable creative partnerships in Luxe Beat’s history, and this interview was long overdue.”

— Sherrie Wilkolaski, Publisher & Editor‑in‑Chief, Luxe Beat Magazine

Jett and Kathryn Britnell Interview Luxe Beat
Jett and Kathryn Britnell Interview Luxe Beat


Every so often, an editor captures the essence of your work with such clarity that it makes you pause. Sherrie’s introduction to our new Luxe Beat Magazine interview did exactly that… distilling our Exploration Society Fellowships, our photography, and the creative path Kathryn and I have walked together.

Sherrie articulated the arc of our professional journey with a grace and generosity that truly resonated. Thank you, Sherrie, for your support, your friendship, and for giving us a platform where our writing and photography can reach a global audience.

Grateful doesn’t quite cover it. This one meant something.

Here is a link to our interview: Here

In The PressPublished Work

Urban Black Bears: Why Winnie Comes to the Hood Published

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Urban Black Bears story 3 Jett Britnell

Kathryn and I wrote a story for our online Third Age Expeditions column titled “Urban Black Bears: Why Winnie Comes to the Hood.” It explores how urban black bears differ from their wild counterparts and how they’ve adapted to living along the edges of human settlement.

Urban Black bears story 2 Jett Britnell

We also earned our twenty‑fifth consecutive Editor’s Picks recognition. 🥂

Here’s the link: Urban Black Bears Story

Life As It Happens

A Century Approaches. Our Moment is Now

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Campiagn 3 low rex Jett Britnell

I was asked to lead the inaugural Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows Campaign. I said yes immediately. No deliberation. Because the moment called for it.

RCGS Fellows Donation Campaign
Then they asked if I would write the letter too. I had never written anything like it before. I said yes anyway and wrote the only way I know how. From the heart.

The Society turns 100 in 2029. Centennial programming runs into 2030. And the next chapter of that story gets written right now, by the Fellows already in the room.

RCGS Fellows Patch
RCGS Fellows Patch

RCGS Fellowship has never been something you buy. It is conferred. No dues. No transactions. Just the quiet recognition of curiosity, contribution, and a genuine commitment to making Canada better known to Canadians and to the world.

Campiagn 3 low rex Jett Britnell

That kind of trust is rare. It is earned. It is worth protecting for the people who come after us.

In The PressPublished Work

Where Time Stands Still: Ghost Huts of Antarctica

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Where Time Stands Still Jett and Kathryn Britnell

Where Time Stands Still: Ghost Huts of Antarctica

We were over the moon to see our story, “Where Time Stands Still: Ghost Huts of Antarctica,” splashed across a full eight‑page double‑spread in the Fall 2025 issue of The Explorers Journal. There’s a particular magic in holding it in your hands… the printed pages give the words and images a presence that digital can’t quite match.

Ghost Hut Story Explorers Journal
Ghost Hut Story Explorers Journal

I’m especially delighted that the editor chose Kathryn’s breathtaking landscape photograph to open the feature. It sets the tone perfectly. And I was standing right next to her when she took the photo.

The Explorers Journal

The Explorers Journal Fall 2025
The Explorers Journal Fall 2025

The Explorers Journal, published by The Explorers Club, continues to distinguish itself… named one of Gear Patrol’s top eight adventure magazines and honoured with Print Magazine’s NYC Design Award. To appear in a publication of this calibre is a thrill for any writer or photographer, and we’re grateful for the opportunity. Even more so, the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from our fellow Explorers Club members was deeply humbling.

You can download this story: Where Time Stands Still

Life As It Happens

Jett Britnell Appointed to Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Board of Governors

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RCGS 72dpi logo

Board of Governors

Jett Britnell RCGS
I’m eager to work alongside the distinguished members of the College of Fellows who serve on the RCGS Board of Governors.

I’m deeply honoured and genuinely thrilled to share that I was elected to the Board of Governors of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). What made this moment even more meaningful was learning from the Chair of the Nominating Committee that the panel’s decision was unanimous.

RCGS HQ Jett Britnell
RCGS HQ

My heartfelt gratitude goes to two dear friends and RCGS Fellows, Janis Peleshok and Jenn Thornhill Verma, whose nominations and unwavering support made this possible. I’m also profoundly thankful to Robin Brooks, another cherished friend and RCGS Fellow, who always speaks highly about me in rooms I’m not in.

RCGS Annual General Meeting

I would be remiss not to acknowledge the warm congratulations and encouragement I received from members of The Explorers Club-Canadian Chapter who were present at the RCGS Annual General Meeting. Your friendship and support mean the world. The same goes for my learned friends and colleagues at the RCGS. Ever since I was elected to the RCGS College of Fellows in 2017… I have been proud to serve and foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Canada… its people, places, natural and cultural heritage… both nationally and globally.

RCGS Flag
RCGS Flag

As the Honourable Lois Mitchell, President of the RCGS, often reminds us… Gratitude is one of the strongest and most transformative states of being. It shifts your perspective from lack to abundance. Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. On this, I couldn’t agree more.

On November 5th, 2025, I attended my first Board meeting with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. I move forward with purpose, deep gratitude, and unwavering commitment to the Society’s ongoing mission. 🇨🇦

ExplorationLife As It Happens

Global Explorers Summit (GLEX) Ottawa 2025

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Screenshot

A Summit of Minds, A Lesson in Leadership

“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”
— Vince Lombardi
RCGS Explorers Club flag - Jett Britnell
Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Explorers Club logo flag
Kathryn and I have returned home from Ottawa after attending The Explorers Club’s Global Exploration Summit (GLEX) 2025, and the afterglow of thought still lingers. As images and reflections from fellow attendees surface, one truth is clear: something extraordinary transpired. People were stirred. Friendships were forged. Minds were opened to the cosmos above and the human spirit within.
RCGS HQ Jett Britnell
Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, where GLEX Ottawa 2025 was held.
In the quiet descent that follows such a gathering, there is a collective reckoning, a gentle attempt to absorb the gravity of all that was shared. Those who were there know. Some admitted to tears, not only from awe at the immensity of space or the fragility of our planet, but from deeper themes that threaded it all together: love, empathy, humanity, and the unyielding drive to explore the unknown.
GLEX 2025 Jett Britnell
GLEX 2025

To call the summit inspiring would be an understatement. A better word is transformational. It reminded us that discovery is not only about what lies beyond the horizon, but also what lies within.

This summit was made possible through the partnership of two storied institutions. The Explorers Club, founded in 1904 to champion scientific exploration, and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, established in 1929 as Canada’s leading voice for geography, exploration, education, and environmental stewardship, joined forces to bring GLEX to Ottawa.
Richard Wiese and John Gieger Jett Britnell
Richard Wiese and John Geiger
Richard Wiese, President of The Explorers Club, captured the spirit of the occasion: “GLEX is the Davos of exploration and we wanted to host it in Canada this year. Canada has played such a vital role in the history of exploration, and we collectively felt that our Canadian brothers and sisters were not getting the proper recognition or love they deserve from their neighbors to the south.”
John Geiger, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, echoed the urgency: “With a dearth of enlightened leadership globally, it is more important than ever to build cross-border alliances with organizations dedicated to scientific inquiry and the health of the planet… We are honoured at this critical moment that they would opt to host their most important summit in Canada.”
Members of Explorers Club Canadian Chapter
Members of the Explorers Club’s Canadian Chapter who attended GLEX.
By choosing Ottawa as the stage for GLEX 2025, these two leaders did more than organize an event. They modelled the kind of leadership the world is hungry for: bold, inclusive, and grounded in shared purpose. When the leaders of two respected exploration societies come together and lead with purpose, they demonstrate that exploration is not just about discovery; it is also about fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. It is about shaping a better future for humanity and reminds us that we are all connected and move forward best when we move forward together. 🇨🇦
Jett Britnell, FI’16
Canadian Chapter Chair
The Explorers Club Canadian Chapter
In The PressPublished Work

Your Most Romantic Table for Two, Please: A Culinary Journey Through Ottawa’s ByWard Market Published

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A Romantic table for two Jett Britnell

Our latest column in Luxe Beat Magazine, titled “Your Most Romantic Table for Two, Please: A Culinary Journey Through Ottawa’s ByWard Market,” was published in our Third Age Expeditions column in Luxe Beat Magazine. We also garnered our 26th consecutive “Editor’s Choice” from the editor, who stated it was… “such a lovely piece.”

Byward Market Ottawa Jett Britnell

Kathryn and I have a special fondness for Ottawa’s Byward Market, a place I have known about for decades. My first visit was in 1966, when I was living in Ottawa and was just a kid. My dad took my brother and me there, and we returned home with two pet rabbits. Over the years, I have visited the market independently to shop. Today, it remains one of our favourite spots for dining out whenever we are in our nation’s capital.

Whenever I make dinner reservations or Kathryn and I arrive at a restaurant without one, I always have a signature request: “A romantic table for two, please.” It may seem like a simple request, but it often catches the hostess off guard. Most of the time, the hostess pauses, smiles widely, and then scans the room for the perfect table. If they don’t spot an ideal one, they will wander off to find one.

The story is here

Life As It Happens

A Life In The Depths: Moonlighting As A Diving Photojournalist Keynote Presentation

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IIBC Promo 2 for Hett Britnell Keynote Presentation
Jett Britnell Keynote A Life in the Depths Moonlighting as a Diving Photojournalist
Jett Britnell Keynote “A Life in the Depths Moonlighting as a Diving Photojournalist.”

I feel deeply honoured to have presented the Lunch Keynote at the Insurance Institute of British Columbia’s Symposium 2025 earlier today. Sharing my photojournalism experience and insights with such an engaged and enthusiastic audience was an absolute pleasure. The positive reception of the keynote from so many truly touched me.

Jett Britnell Keynote Presentation at Insurance Institute of BC Annual Symposium
A special thanks to Danielle Bolduc and Winnie Hon for placing your trust in me for this important IIBC annual event. I’m also immensely grateful to the IIBC’s Seminars Committee members for their warm welcome and outstanding coordination that made this experience seamless.

Thank you note from the IIBC Seminars Committee
Thank you note from the IIBC Seminars Committee

Lastly, my sincere gratitude goes to the insurance industry professionals whose energizing and uplifting feedback made this experience all the more rewarding. Your kind words fuel the drive to continue my long obedience in the same direction—thank you all!

IIBC Promo for Jett Britnell
IIBC Promo for Jett Britnell
ExplorationPublished Work

The Explorers Club: Where The Spirit Of Exploration Abides

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The Explorers Club Story - Jett and Kathryn Britnell

“Thank you, Jett & Kathryn!!! Another AMAZING piece.”

— Sherrie Wilkolaski, Editor in Chief, Luxe Beat Magazine

Our latest Third Age Expeditions column for Luxe Beat Magazine, “The Explorers Club: Where the Spirit of Exploration Abides,” marks a significant milestone as our 25th consecutive “Editor’s Pick.” 

This comprehensive feature, totalling 9,618 words, edges close to book territory and explores the numerous benefits of being a member of The Explorers Club. Moreover, it shines a tiny spotlight on the Canadian Chapter while honouring the sense of fellowship, camaraderie, and the ties that bind Explorers Club members.

Story Link Here

Here’s what some fellow members of The Explorers Club said:

“This isn’t something that I talk about much outside of my close Circle but this is something that is worth sharing for those of you that might be interested. I met the authors on a trip last year and had the pleasure of scuba diving with them in Antarctica. Meeting Jett Britnell and his amazing wife, Kathryn Britnell, became some sort of life-changing event for me. They were both members of a club that I had so much respect for, that I felt Starstruck to be sitting on the same boat with them! (please don’t tell them that I said that!) Anyhow, it was through their guidance and support that I was actually able to become a member of this club. I still feel like a private first class in a room full of generals- but at least I’m in the room! Anyway, if you are interested in more information, there is a link to an article that they wrote about the organization. Becoming a member of The Explorers Club is one of the greatest accomplishments in my adult life.”

— Mark Owens

“There’s a nice segment in this article about the Explorers Club’s DEI Committee and the Society of Forgotten Explorers.”

— Robert Harris

“This is so good ! It really encapsulates what we are about and what the club is built on. Outstanding.”

— Kevin Heath

“Wow that’s quite a write up…..well done both of you.”

— Natalie Schmitt

“Excellent, that’s the perfect summary.”

— Nick Lyon

 

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