Marine sector leaders from across the country will be meeting in Ottawa tomorrow to confront labour and skills shortages that could have widespread repercussions on Canadian trade, business development, innovation, and the overall economy. The Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF), in partnership with Master Mariners of Canada (MMC), is hosting the inaugural Imagine Marine Conference, taking place October 2-3, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario. This national event is a forum for stakeholders to come together to shine a spotlight on the marine sector’s biggest workforce challenges and to share strategies, investment and policy changes that are needed for continued progress.

As 43% of the current workforce is set to retire over the next decade, the sector is facing a need to fill over 19,000 seafarer positions onboard domestic vessels to keep up with demand, along with thousands of shore-based jobs in ports and terminals, shipyards and offices. To meet these demands, the sector will need to increase awareness of marine careers and pathways amongst Canadians, improve the availability of workforce data and financial support, and expand skills training and accessibility.

“We are at a critical point where private sector leadership and federal and provincial support must align to address labour shortages and prevent future disruption to our transportation and supply networks. These are big challenges that no employer or training institution can overcome in isolation. We need a strategic, unified approach,” says Julia Fields, Executive Director of the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF). “Through the Imagine Marine Conference, we hope to enable networking and collaboration among professionals, labour organizations, educators, and policymakers. The discussions and feedback at the event will help direct the CMCF’s priorities and actions moving into 2025.”

Under the theme "Resolving the Talent Crisis: Strategies to Elevate Marine's Recruitment and Retention Game," a key focus of the event will be sharing successful programs and initiatives and providing workshops on improving attraction, retention and inclusion of employees, including those from diverse backgrounds and experiences -- a necessity for the future resilience and success of the marine sector.

To address the demand for seafarer positions, one of the Master Mariners of Canada’s main priorities is to mentor young cadets and to encourage junior officers to take the necessary steps to advance to Master Mariner positions,” says Captain Eben March, the National Master of the Master Mariners of Canada (MMC). “We recognize the importance of increasing awareness of career opportunities in the marine industry. As an organization, we continue to explore and enhance our partnerships with marine training institutions, the private sector, and government agencies.”

The conference lineup of speakers includes leaders from across marine and HR sectors. Angela Splinter, CEO of Trucking HR Canada, will deliver the keynote address, sharing her insights from the trucking industry. The opening panel, “Leadership in Action: Confronting Marine Skills Shortages for a Sustainable Future,” features industry leaders, including Mario Pelletier (Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard), Gregg Ruhl (CEO, Algoma Central Corporation), Julie Gascon (President & CEO, Montreal Port Authority), and Jon Booren (Director of Talent, Ontario Shipyards). Stéphanie Aubourg (Chief Human Resources Officer, CSL, and Chair of CMCF’s Board of Directors) will moderate the discussion.