The Chamber of Marine Commerce today congratulates its member Georgian College on securing $1.5 million from Canadian ship operators, the final tranche of funding needed for the completion of its new Marine Emergency Duties (MED) Training and Research Centre in Owen Sound.
Chamber members Algoma Central Corporation and Lower Lakes Towing Ltd. contributed $1 million and $500,000 respectively towards the centre.
Stephen Brooks, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce, said: “These significant donations from the Great Lakes-Seaway shipping industry illustrate how the private and public sector can work together to ensure that future mariners and existing crew members have access to the highest standards of safety training in their own province. More than $7 billion is being spent on infrastructure improvements to the Great Lakes-Seaway system and this is yet another investment that will help ensure the continued success of this vital trade corridor. We can’t wait to see the completed centre open next September.”
Mandatory for everyone working aboard a ship, the facility will provide training in firefighting, survival craft, life raft and immersion suit training, as well as first aid. Without this facility, the closest English-language institution offering MED training is currently in Prince Edward Island. The firefighting facilities opened this autumn and the main centre is now under construction.
The $1.5 million in private sector funding adds to federal and provincial government funding of $3.92 million announced in June and $2 million pledged by Grey County Council.
Last year the Chamber of Marine Commerce worked with MP Larry Miller and Georgian College to organize a tour of Georgian’s Great Lakes Marine Training Centre for industry executives, federal and provincial legislators to showcase Georgian’s impressive training program in Owen Sound and to highlight the importance of building the new MED centre. (See Flickr link below for photo of this event.)
Flickr
Download photo of the Chamber of Marine Commerce’s event with Georgian College in 2014.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/marinecommerce/13893561874/in/album-72157644047690673/
(Description of linked photo: On board Georgian College’s giant ship simulator with (L-R) Stephen Brooks (President, Chamber of Marine Commerce), Larry Miller (MP, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound), Hon. Jason Kenney (MP, Minister of Employment and Skills Development), Rick Dykstra (MP, St. Catharines).)
About the Chamber of Marine Commerce
The Chamber of Marine Commerce is a bi-national association that represents more than 150 marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber represents the interests of its members by addressing government issues affecting marine transportation. Advocacy extends to federal, state/provincial and municipal levels of government.
Media Contact
Julia Fields
Chamber of Marine Commerce 613-294-8515
The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) is a bi-national association that represents diverse marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as Canadian domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber advocates for safe, sustainable, harmonized and competitive policy and regulation that recognizes the marine transportation system's significant advantages in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Coastal and Arctic regions.
Media Contact:
Jason Card
Chamber of Marine Commerce
jcard@cmc-ccm.com
(613) 447 5401