For the past 50 years, the RV John Strickland has been a key part of the University of Victoria's (UVic) biology and earth and ocean sciences departments. As the boat approaches its 50th birthday on Nov. 4, we're taking a look back at some of the boat's key contributions and memorable milestones.
Building the Strickland
The hull and topsides of the Strickland were built by Shore Boat Builders in Vancouver. Credit: UVic Archives
The Strickland isn't just a boat we bought it's a boat that we built. Faculty members in the Department of Biology, led by Jack Littlepage, dreamed of a vessel designed for the complex coastal waters of British Columbia that could be used for a wide variety of marine science studies, as well as for the teaching program. For years, they advocated for such a vessel, and on Oct. 15, 1973, the project was greenlit by the UVic Board of Governors.
