J. Dewey Soper

Joseph Dewey Soper
J. Dewey Soper after his return to Cape Doset, March 1929
Born	May 5, 1893 Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Died	November 2, 1982 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Education	University of Alberta
Occupation	Ornithologist, explorer, zoologist, author
Title	Federal Chief Migratory Bird Officer for the Prairie Provinces; Chief Federal Wildlife Officer for Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon
Spouse(s)	Carolyn Freeman
Children	son, daughter

Joseph Dewey Soper (May 5, 1893, Guelph, Ontario — November 2, 1982, Edmonton, Alberta) was a widely traveled Canadian Arctic ornithologist, explorer, zoologist, and prolific author.

Soper was raised near Rockwood, Ontario where he developed an interest in wildlife and natural history. His mother wanted Soper to be a minister; his father wanted Soper to work on the farm. Soper spurned organized religion, and was influenced by Henry David Thoreau's Walden and the works of Ernest Thompson Seton. He attended Alberta College and the University of Alberta where he studied zoology. Soper was first published at age 20.

In 1920, W. E. Saunders invited Soper to a naturalist's meeting at Point Pelee, Lake Erie where Soper met Dr. R. M. Anderson who went on to invite Soper to work as a naturalist on the Federal Government's East Arctic Expedition. Soper was commissioned to document the arctic flora and fauna of Baffin Island, Beechey Island, Bylot Island, Devon Island, Ellesmere Island, northern Greenland, and areas of Labrador.

In 1924, the National Museum of Canada retained Soper for an expedition to Baffin Island. Soper headquartered at a Royal Canadian Mounted Police base that was also a Hudson's Bay Company post. During this trip, Soper explored Nettilling Lake, Koukdjuak River, Cumberland Gulf to Foxe Basin, Amadjuak Bay on Hudson Strait, Cape Dorset covering more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) by dog sled, boat, and canoe.