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Early in
1994 a group of the concerned members of
British Columbia Branch of the Nautical
Institute raised over $3,000 by donation
and secured an agreement with a major
international shipping company, with
offices in Vancouver, to place four
Canadian Junior Officers in training
positions. The ships were fully crewed
and there was no incentive for the company
to replace their low-cost officers with
Canadians. However, there was an
undertaking to provide board and lodging
at no cost to the trainee and to ensure
that a broad range of training
opportunities was available. The funds
raised by donation were used to pay each
trainee a stipend of $400 per month.
Subsequent reports received from the
shipping company indicated a high level of
satisfaction with the trainees and one
trainee was accepted into a salaried
position as a Junior Officer.
Unfortunately the initiative had to be
abandoned due to lack of further funding.
Nevertheless,
the success of the initiative stimulated
further discussion amongst the Branch
members. They recognised that a structure
with tax exempt status, separate from The
Nautical Institute, was essential to
further develop the scheme and to
encourage fund raising. With the benefit
of input from the Canadian Institute of
Marine Engineers (a Society) application
was made to incorporate a Society. The
immediate priorities of the Society would
be to: -
-
secure
sea-going training positions for
unemployed or under-employed Junior
Officers resident in British Columbia.
-
screen
and select suitable trainees for these
positions.
-
pursue
sources of funding to provide a stipend
to Junior Officers while in training.
The
Certificate of Incorporation of the
Society was issued on February 10th
1995. Within one month the Nautical
Institute, BC Branch, became an Affiliated
Member of the Society. In due course, the
Canadian Institute of Marine Engineers and
the Company of Master Mariners of Canada
also joined as affiliated members. At
that point a change was made to the
Society’s name, replacing the words
“British Columbia” with “Canada”.
While the
Society was being created, a profitable
link was established with the BC
Government’s Department of Skills,
Training and Labour. In time a total of
$72,000 was received from that
Department. The money was held in the
custody of Camosun College and disbursed
to the Society over a period of three
years. It was then used to provide
stipends for Canadian Junior Officers for
whom the Society had found positions on
foreign flag-vessels. This program proved
to be highly successful.
About nine
years ago, priorities changed. There was
now no longer a market for Canadian Watch
Keeping Mates on Foreign Flag vessels.
But, at about the same time the Cadet
Program was introduced to the Marine
Campus of the British Columbia Institute
of Technology. The Society then sought a
way to assist Cadets in the program. The
establishment of endowments proved to be
the answer in order to generate funds for
scholarships.
We now
offer two scholarships each year. One is
open to both Nautical Science and
Engineering Cadets. Starting this year
the other scholarship will alternate from
year to year between the two groups of
Cadets. We also provide book prizes to
graduates of the Nautical Science program.
If you wish
to get involved please click the SEATIMES
Life-ring link below. SEATIMES is the Society's
newsletter which is periodically issued.
On the last page of the letter you will
find and submission slip for donations
or membership application. Many thanks.
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