Frederick B. "Ted" Watt

The son of Arthur and Gertrude Balmer Watt, Frederick B. "Ted" Watt was a correspondent for many newspapers and magazines, notably the Edmonton Journal. In 1929, thanks to an invitation from childhood friend and legendary pilot Wop May, Watt covered the first airmail flight to Aklavik. He also covered the manhunt for the Mad Trapper of Rat River in 1932. During the Great Depression, Watt also made his way to Great Bear Lake in the rush to find pitchblende, which was later used as uranium in the World War II.

Watt was a naval intelligence officer in World War II, earning the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He became a member of the information branch of the Department of Health and Welfare in Ottawa from 1957-1969. In 1980, Watt published the story of his time at Great Bear Lake entitled, Great Bear: A Journey Remembered.

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Click for a brief (1:43) clip of an interview with Ted Watt originally produced by the CBC Northern Service in 1983. Les McLaughlin asks Watt about his book Great Bear: A Journey Remembered. (CBC/NWT Archives/N-1998-030: 0203)
Watt intro:
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Listen to the entire interview (30:33), in which Watt begins by describing his press coverage of the first mail flight down the Mackenzie River. His story unfolds with the lure of Great Bear Lake with mentions of Jack Hornby and Gilbert Labine.
Watt complete:
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