Team

GEERG researchers and volunteers are based at various institutions across Canada. Although studying the Greenland shark and other northern elasmobranchs could easily employ several researchers on a full-time basis, no funding exists to sustain our work. GEERG duties are thus seasonal and non-remunerated. GEERG directors may nonetheless be reached throughout the year.

“A man alone is in bad company.”

QUOTE: Jacques-Yves Cousteau, himself citing Paul Valery
COVER IMAGES: (1) Jean-Louis Courteau painting “Big Brother” for a GEERG auction (Photo © Nicole Théorêt) (2) Diving off the village of Ilimanaq in Disko Bay, Greenland (Photo © Jeffrey Gallant | GEERG)
Jeffrey Gallant, M.Sc.
President | Lead Scientist

Jeffrey is the founder and lead scientist of GEERG. His research focuses on how environmental factors and underwater acoustics influence the movement and behaviour of the Greenland shark. Jeffrey is also a licensed captain, diving instructor, aquanaut, photographer, and editor of the Diving Almanac & Book of Records. [Full Bio on the Diving Almanac]

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Paul Boissinot
Director | Diving Logistics

Paul has been a diving instructor since 1973 and he is also a certified commercial diver. He is the President of the Quebec Federation of Underwater Activities (FQAS), a former DSO of the Quebec Aquarium, and a former President of the Canadian Association for Underwater Science (CAUS). [Full Bio on the Diving Almanac]

Marc-André Gaudreau, Ph.D.
Engineer

Professor of mechanical engineering at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and researcher in acoustics. In addition to designing and building various devices and parts for our vessel and research activities, Marc-André is a member of GEERG's dive team.

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Patricia Hay
Director | Accounting

Patsy has been our accountant and master administrator since GEERG was founded in 2003. Patsy is also an associate editor and researcher for the Diving Almanac & Book of Records.

Paul Lemay
Director | Fleet Logistics

Paul is a retired principal of a trade school located in Drummondville, Quebec. He was part of the team that designed and built GEERG's shark observation cage in 1999, and he was a key player in the acquisition and modernisation of our flagship research vessel, the Skalugsuak.

Courteau Jean-Louis
Artist in Residence

Jean-Louis is a prolific artist, writer, and photographer who finds his inspiration while diving. He is the founder and Director of CIEL | Centre d'Interpretation des Eaux Laurentiennes (Laurentian Waters Interpretation Center), and of Aquadelic. [Full Bio on the Diving Almanac]

Board of Advisors

Marine biologist; veterinarian; author; cinematographer; sculptor; Director of Animal Care at Dalhousie University; research focuses on veterinary aspects of fish, reptiles, and amphibians, and shark ecology; co-founder of the Greenland Shark and Elasmobranch Education and Research Group (GEERG) in 2004; co-teaches a summer field course, Biology and Conservation of Sharks, Skates and Rays, at Dalhousie University; first diver to tag a torpedo ray underwater; has been involved in the production of more than 50 television documentaries; founding Director of Wild in Blue; author of Eastern Tidepool and Reef: North Atlantic Marine Life (1997); a.k.a. CHC. (SOURCE: Diving Almanac)

Marine biologist specializing in sharks; founding Director of Sherwood Scuba Marine Conservation; Associate Editor of the Diving Almanac (SOURCE: Diving Almanac)

Marine biologist specialized in marine mammal ecology and ecosystem biodiversity; conservationist; mediator between traditionally conflicting stakeholders including ocean fisheries, whaling, shipping and conservation; CEO of M - Expertise Marine, a consulting firm on marine science and scientific communication; former Assistant Professor at the University of Tromsø; speaker at TED; author; public speaker; radio and television host; has conducted research around the world including Canada, the Caribbean, Africa and Scandinavia; advocates an approach linking research, conservation and education as the best way to protect the oceans for future generations. (SOURCE: Diving Almanac)

Diving Safety Officer (DSO) and aquarist at the Montreal Biodome; Executive of the Canadian Association for Underwater Science. (SOURCE: Diving Almanac)

Friends of GEERG

People

ARBOUR, Sylvie
BARRETTE, Blaise
BATT, John
BERGERON, Réjean
BOUCHARD, Marcel
BUNTIC, Ratko
CERNY, Norm & Chantale
CHOROMANSKI, Joe
DESGAGNÉS, Jean
DOUBILET, David
FOREST, Jean-Yves
HARVEY-CLARK, Chris
HAYES, Jennifer
HILDIBRANDSSON, Guðjón
IMBAULT, Luc
LACOURSIÈRE, Jacques
LAFOND, France
LAROCHE, Guy
NADEAU, Daniel
MOURANT, Jean-Denis
MOURANT, Philippe
RIOUX, Roma
ROBERT, Michel
ROUSSEL, Maude
SAVIGNAC, Richard
SIMONEAU, Clifford
SIMARD, Alain
SIMARD, Guylaine
TESSIER, Pierre

Companies & Organisations

Amphibico
Aquart
Bioapp
Boisvert Marine (Sorel-Tracy)
Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP)
Bourret International | Bourret Transport
Club Nautique de Baie-Comeau
Cochran Undersea Technology
Creaform
Debdive
Drummondville Marine
Evinrude
Force Fin
Fourth Element
Groupe Maritime Verreault
Halcyon Dive Systems
Horiba Scientific
Kimpex
Nocturnal Lights
NP Publicité
Ocean Technology Systems (OTS)
Pëko Design
Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
Santi
Seabright Marine
Sixpro
Transport Bourret
Très’Arts d’ici
Vemco
Verreault Navigation
Videoray

Education & Research

Aquarium du Québec
Atlantic Salmon Federation
Biodôme de Montréal
Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum
CEGEP de Drummondville
CFP Paul-Rousseau
Dalhousie University
Exploramer
GREMM
Jardin des glaciers
Maurice Lamontagne Institute (DFO)
Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS)
Montréal Science Centre
Musée du Fjord
Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network
Réseau de suivi de la biodiversité aquatique (RSBA)
Réseau d’observation de mammifères marins (ROMM)
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Sedna Epic Expedition
University of British Columbia
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Ville de Baie-Comeau
Zoo de Granby
  • Stamp of Approval?
    04/06/2019

    Stamp of Approval?

    It is unfortunate that the image depicting the Greenland shark on a Canadian postal stamp was modeled on what was likely a photo of a shark caught and...
  • Who is the Corkscrew Killer?
    24/02/2019

    Who is the Corkscrew Killer?

    The Greenland shark does leave a trademark wound on its victims but this most certainly isn’t it. We therefore believe that corkscrew fatalities at Sa...
  • The truth about the Greenland shark?
    16/02/2019

    The truth about the Greenland shark?

    In light of the combined knowledge gained over the last decade on the Arctic and St. Lawrence populations of the Greenland shark, this recent article ...
  • Hooked on Conservation
    11/02/2019

    Hooked on Conservation

    Wildlife photography, no matter how well-intentioned, should never serve as a pretext to cause harm to any animal, including the Greenland shark....