Croisière blanche
| Industry | Exploration |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1934 |
| Founder | André Citroën, Charles Bedaux |
Area served | Northern Alberta and British Columbia, Canada |
Key people | Charles Bedaux, André Citroën, Fern Bedaux, Bilonha Chiesa, Floyd Crosby, Frank Swannell, Ernest Lemarque |
| Products | Expedition, documentary film |
The Croisière blanche (translated as The White Cruise), also referred to as the Bedaux expedition of 1934 or the Bedaux Canadian Subarctic Expedition, represented the fourth major journey initiated by André Citroën at the suggestion of Charles Bedaux.
This venture aimed to traverse the remote northern regions of Alberta and northern British Columbia in Canada, while simultaneously evaluating Citroën half-track vehicles, creating a documentary film, and attracting public attention.
The Citroën Vehicles
Charles Bedaux partnered with automobile manufacturer André Citroën, whose innovative Citroën-Kégresse half-track trucks served as the expedition’s primary transport. Out of the five vehicles deployed, two slid off cliffs during the journey, one was designated for a dynamite explosion scene but ended up drifting downstream after the blast failed, and the remaining two were abandoned near Halfway River. Decades later, when the Alaska Highway was constructed in the 1940s, these remnants were discovered; one half-track was ultimately donated to the Western Development Museum located in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Leading a group exceeding one hundred participants, Bedaux included his wife Fern and his mistress Bilonha Chiesa, an Italian countess. The team also featured Hollywood director Floyd Crosby, renowned later for High Noon, alongside Alberta cowboys and an extensive film crew. To assist with navigation, Canadian surveyors Frank Swannell and Ernest Lemarque joined the expedition. The departure point was Edmonton, Alberta, on July 6, 1934, with an intended destination of Telegraph Creek, British Columbia. Much of their path crossed uncharted wilderness lacking established trails or vehicle-accessible roads.
Preparation Camp at Jasper
In June 1934, Bedaux assembled all expedition members in Jasper, Alberta, mandating physical conditioning to prepare for anticipated hardships such as hiking, rafting, and mountaineering. Despite this requirement, no actual training took place as participants were preoccupied with celebratory champagne receptions and formal dinners organized in their honor.
Expedition Route
Starting from Edmonton, the group proceeded through Athabasca and Grande Prairie, then entered British Columbia passing through Dawson Creek and Fort St. John. Their journey continued northward to Montney, then northwest toward Halfway River, before reaching Whitewater Post beyond the Northern Rocky Mountains. Bedaux planned to cross Sifton Pass en route to Dease Lake, follow the course of the Stikine River to Telegraph Creek, and ultimately arrive at the Pacific Ocean. However, this concluding segment was never accomplished.
Expedition Progress
Following a champagne breakfast hosted by Edmonton’s social elite and a ceremonial parade along Jasper Avenue, Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor officially launched the expedition. Shortly after departing the city limits, rain began and persisted throughout much of their travel. Despite adverse weather and challenging terrain conditions, their progress remained consistent: departing Grande Prairie by July 12, they reached the trail connecting Taylor to Fort St. John by July 17.
The group stayed in Fort St. John until July 22 to procure supplies, perform maintenance on their Citroën vehicles, recruit additional cowboys, and attend social banquets. At this point, Bedaux decided that increased publicity was necessary; he dismissed his radio operator and declared that they would proceed without radio communication. Additionally, he regarded the Citroëns as expendable assets for publicity stunts and orchestrated dramatic destruction scenes: in August, two vehicles were deliberately pushed off a cliff near Halfway River while a third was set afloat downriver for an explosion sequence. This tactic proved effective—newspapers across Canada and the United States reported the loss of three cars along with near-fatal incidents involving expedition members, commending their courage.
By mid-September, media outlets anticipated their arrival in October. Nevertheless, at Whitewater Pass, expert Frank Swannell advised halting further travel due to snow-covered mountain passes. This counsel was wise as horses later fell ill and terrain conditions worsened beyond traversal. On October 17, the Edmonton Journal announced that the expedition was retreating.
After spending nearly four months navigating wilderness areas, the team arrived at Hudson's Hope, where a large-scale celebration marked their near accomplishment—one of the most significant events in that town’s history.
The film
Decades after being forgotten, Crosby's footage was uncovered in a basement in Paris. This discovery served as the foundation for the 1995 documentary The Champagne Safari, directed by filmmaker George Ungar.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation created a radio drama entitled "Champagne Safari," which implied hidden agendas behind Bedaux's expedition to northern British Columbia and the Far North, referencing his prior trips in 1926 and 1931.
Locations named after Bedaux
- Bedaux Pass, situated at the source of the Muskwa River within Kwadacha Wilderness Provincial Park
External links
- Western Development Museum at Moose Jaw
- Expedition details from Fort St. John Museum
- Phipps-Mackenzie Collection at Northern BC Archives
Further reading
- My Country: The Remarkable Past Pierre Berton
- Romance Of The Alaska Highway Philip H. Godsell
- The Price of Power: A Biography of Charles Eugene Bedaux Jim Christy