Since 2019, through the Oceans Protection Plan, Transport Canada has partnered with Canadian marine training institutions to deliver training to underrepresented groups in the marine sector. With a focus on making training accessible to Indigenous Peoples, Northerners, and women, the Marine Training Program has trained over 650 students across Canada, sending them to careers at B.C. Ferries, the Canadian Coast Guard, and other areas of the marine industry.
This past March, another four years of funding, totaling nearly $30 million, was announced to renew the Marine Training Program. This investment is being distributed to:
- the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), in collaboration with Camosun College
- the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)
- the Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium (NFMTC)
- the Western Arctic Marine Training Consortium (WAMTC)
A changing industry
Since 2019, through the Oceans Protection Plan, Transport Canada has partnered with Canadian marine training institutions to deliver training to underrepresented groups in the marine sector.
We spoke with Tracy Scott, the Project Facilitator for NSCC’s A’paqt (the school’s name for their Marine Training Program, which translates to oceans in Mi’kmaq). Tracy comes from a family of seafarers and is seeing firsthand how funding from the Oceans Protection Plan is supporting a shifting industry to be more diverse and inclusive. In turn, changing lives and the face of the industry.
There is a huge need to fill a growing number of jobs in the marine industry and marine institutes are looking to not only fill those roles, but also diversify the industry. “I come from a family of seafarers—all of them men. They’re all at retirement age now, but looking back, they say how you rarely saw a woman in this industry,” Tracy says.
Times are changing, and the marine industry has grown. In a global landscape, there is a labour shortage, something that has been exacerbated by the former focus of recruiting only men. “When you exclude 50% of the population, or more, you’re missing out on so many people who can go to work,” notes Tracy. Through the Marine Training Program, Tracy says, “We’re helping people to see themselves in the industry.” She adds, “Those are often the ones who face the most barriers in accessing training and support, so we’re working to change that. Our goal is to remove barriers and encourage women and Indigenous students to succeed in the marine industry. Our promise as a college is to empower those who strive to know more, do more, be more.”
The Marine Training Program focused on making training accessible to Indigenous Peoples, Northerners, and women.
Financing and prerequisites
When accessing schooling, a couple of hurdles may come to mind for potential applicants: the first—college prerequisites; the second, finances. When applying to these programs, assistance is offered in both areas. “In our first four years, we recognized the importance of providing A’paqt students with foundational pieces such as math and physics, so they feel more confident when entering core marine programming.”
In terms of finances, Tracy says there are bursaries for underrepresented students to cover their tuition fees and even $60/day living allowances for Indigenous students. You can go away to work, support your families, and experience the world. And you’re part of a big seafarer community.”
Tracy says, “One thing I would add is this project is life-changing for people.”