Transcript
Text on screen:
Nova Scotia Community College
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Theresa Laaroussi, A’paqt Project Lead:
I think our goal, and also Transport Canada’s goal, is to diversify the marine force. So, to see that there are more women and indigenous people.
I'm Theresa Laaroussi, and I'm the A’paqt project lead. So, A’paqt is the Mi'kmaq word for the seas or oceans. I love my job. I love what I do. I'm an educator first of all. I was an elementary school teacher, actually, years ago, and it's so awesome that there's the funding from Transport Canada for women and Indigenous people in a field where there really isn’t a lot of representation. So, it's exciting to be a part of that, I guess.
Capt. Steven Baxter, Lead Faculty, Marine Navigation:
I'm Captain Steven Baxter. My role here is lead faculty for marine navigation, and basically, I run the simulator. Through the Oceans Protection Plan, that was the funding that was made available to the A’paqt program. The A’paqt program actually administers that money on behalf of Transport Canada. To be honest, it's a spectacular funding model. It just takes a lot of stress off them, and it really makes it more achievable.
Text on Screen:
“Since 2018, more than 1,700 women, Indigenous, and Northern students have completed marine training programs across Canada, supported by the Oceans Protection Plan. As of April 1, 2025, over 700 of these graduates have found employment in the marine industry."