Ernest Frederick “Fred” Roots was born on July 5, 1923, and died on October 18, 2016.

He was a Canadian geologist, polar explorer, educator and public servant.

Following graduating with undergraduate and master’s degrees in geology from the University of British Columbia and a doctorate from Princeton University, Roots joined the Scott Polar Research Institute and was appointed Chief Geologist for the 1949 to 1952 Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition.

In the expedition, in addition to ground-breaking geological and glaciological research studies, he made a 189 day, unsupported dog sled journey across the continent; a record that still stood at the time of his death over six decades later.

When he when back, to Canada he joined the Geological Survey of Canada with whom he served as a field geologist until 1958, when he left to help found the Polar Continental Shelf Program.

After his retirement, Roots and his wife moved back to British Columbia from their home in Gatineau, Quebec.

Fred was survived by June and three of their four children

Fred Roots passed away at 93 years old.