Dates: November 7, 2022
Location: Shaw Center, 55 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9J2
Hotels: many possibilities including Novotel, Les Suites or other hotels nearby
Registration: No Cost, but Registration is required here.
Introduction: Since the founding of the National Seafarers’ Welfare Board in November 2020, our members and partners have only met online. We build on the success of our online meetings to convene an in person meeting in Ottawa, ON from November 7, 2022. This in-person gathering will allow us to have a much better opportunity to learn about each other’s work and solidify our working relationships. The meeting will begin with a board meeting and then welcome additional guests for a seminar in the afternoon. The seminar will allow us to learn best practices, disseminate knowledge, and bring attention to the important challenges of seafarers’ welfare in Canada’s ports.
Objectives:
- To facilitate face-to-face relationship building between Board members and the larger seafarers’ welfare community
- To share international and national best practices that can support seafarers’ welfare capacity development in Canada
- To galvanize the profile and presence of the Board with decision-makers and the seafarers’ welfare community
November 7 (Shaw Center, 55 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9J2)
| November 7 | Program | Location |
| 10 – 11:30 | National Seafarers Welfare Board Meeting (Board members and observers only) | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 12:00 – 1:15 | Lunch All participants welcome! | Shaw Centre Room 104 |
| 1:15 registration | 1st Seafarers Welfare Symposium | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 1:30 – 1:45 | Opening Remarks – Debbie Murray, Chair, Canadian National Seafarers Welfare Board Joanna Manger, Director General, Marine Safety & Security, Transport Canada | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 1:45 – 2:15 | Seafarers’ Welfare and its Role in Recruitment and Retention Elisabeth Bertrand (Transport Canada, retired) | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 2:15 – 3:00 | Gap Analysis of Seafarers’ Welfare Provision in Canada Dr. Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) and Dr. Desai Shan (Memorial University) | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 3:00 – 3:30 | Networking Break | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 3:30 – 4:00 | Seafarers’ Welfare – Trends and Opportunities from a Shipowner Perspective Karen Kancens (Vice-President, Shipping Federation of Canada) | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 4:00 – 4:45 | The Effectiveness of Port Welfare Committees and the Pandemic Experience Representatives of Vancouver Seafarers’ Welfare Committee – Dcn. Dileep Athaide (Coordinator of Catholic Chaplaincy Port of Vancouver and Regional Director Canada Stella Maris); Peter Lahay (ILWU, local 400; ITF); Lanna Hodgson (ISAC) | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 4:45-4:50 | Closing and Thanks | Shaw Centre Room 102 |
| 5:00 – 7:00 | Reception All participants welcome | location TBD |
| 7:00 p.m. | End of schedule |
For more on the Canadian National Seafarers’ Welfare Board, please see the website of Transport Canada.