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| 2007 Report |
| 2006 Report |
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11th Annual Conference, Jan. 2008
A Decade of Progress
January 30th, 2008
A Decade of Progress was the theme of the 11th Annual Harbour Authority Association of BC Convention, recently hosted by the Harbour Authority of Squamish. The three-day event was well attended, with over 100 delegates from harbours all along the BC Coast, Alaska and Seattle, and a large Small Craft Harbours contingent, representing Pacific Region, Ottawa, Quebec, and the Maritimes.
The event started off with a wine and cheese reception at the Sea to Sky Hotel. Cal Hegge (Assistant Deputy Minister) and Randy Kamp (Parliamentary Secretary) were able to take time out of their busy schedules to attend the reception. Cal Hegge voiced high praise for the accomplishments of the Pacific Region. He provided an update on the Small Craft Harbours Program and indicated the ongoing commitment of DFO to the Small Craft Harbours Program. Randy Kamp spoke about the ‘Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans’ report to parliament which recommended the need for a network of safe and well-funded Small Craft Harbours. The reception was generously hosted by Westmana Corporation of Vancouver.
The Conference was held at the Sea to Sky Hotel in Squamish. The official start of the Conference began with the HAABC Annual General Meeting. Jim Parsons stepped down as director and Carol Doyle was elected to represent the Sunshine Coast. Elizabeth McLeod remained in the position of president, Art Childs as Vice president, and Rick Hill took over Janet Rooke’s position of Secretary/ Treasurer. In recognition of his participation in the HAABC Jim Parsons received a Life Membership Award.
Small Craft Harbours Pacific Region Engineering Staff gave a workshop on Preventative Maintenance. Small Craft Harbours Pacific Region continued the awards program introduced last year.
This year’s recipients were:
Individual Commitment Awards
Lower Mainland – Bob Baziuk, Steveston HA
South Island – Linda Young, HA of Sooke
North Island – Dan Kennedy, Alert Bay HA
Mid Island – Liz McLeod, Comox Valley HA
Sunshine Coast – Jim Parsons, Powell River HA
North Coast – Lutz Budde, Oona River HA
HA Achievement Award
Campbell River HA
HA Environmental Stewardship Award
False Creek HA
Friend of BC Harbour Authorities Award
Community Futures Development Corporation of the Sunshine Coast
Special SCH Pacific Achievement Award
This was a one-time only award that went to the Mission HA
Our congratulations go to these deserving individuals and Harbours. SCH major Regional Initiatives and Public Awareness Strategies were presented.
Mike Richards of the Georgia Strait Alliance gave an overview of the Clean Marine BC project, and Bob Baziuk updated the delegates on the activities of the NHAAC.
Thursday began with a workshop on funding proposal writing presented by Elizabeth McLeod, Jack Peake (Island Coastal Economic Trust), and Steve Jones (Western Economic Diversification) as well as a workshop on Integrated Planning for Shared Success presented by Carmen Abela-Reid of Interis Consulting Inc. and Sarah Murdoch of SCH.
This was followed by a presentation on the Career Training for Ports and Harbors course being developed by the Pacific Coast Congress of Harbor Masters and Port Managers in collaboration with the University of Alaska. Our thanks to Mary Purvis and Ray Majeski for presenting this information.
The highly entertaining and informative Mario Govorchin from the Justice Institute presented a 2 hour workshop on Critical Skills in Conflictual Communications. His presentation has become a regular event at our conferences and from the response of the group we hope this relationship will continue.
All the delegates, exhibitors and spouses gathered for a delicious salmon and roast beef banquet on Thursday night and danced the night away to a local Squamish band, Doctor D and the Soul Demons. Funds were raised for the Dick Maughan Scholarship, our special thanks to June Maynard of Pender Harbour for donating her prize to the fund.
Friday morning started with a lively presentation by Shelly Chapelski on Marine Law. The complexity of running our harbours is always emphasized by the popularity of Shelley’s presentations.
A tour of the Squamish Adventure Center and the Squamish Harbour was next on the agenda. This was followed with a presentation by the Westmana Group showcasing development plans for Squamish Harbour.
The conference was concluded by one last lunch at the hotel. Thanks to all who took the time to attend, see you next year.
Links to the Standing Committee on Fisheries & Oceans 2007
Links to the Standing Committee on Fisheries & Oceans (SCOFO)
SCOFO website.
Second Report of the Standing Committee:
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePublication.aspx?COM=10480&Lang=1&SourceId=144550
Evidence from the March 22, 2007 meeting
at which the NHAAC Executive presented:
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/fopo/evidence/ev2793591/fopoev45-e.htm#T1215
Evidence from the May 29, 2007 meeting
at which Mr. Robert Bergeron, DG, SCH and Mr. Cal Hegge, ADM, Human Resources & Corporate Services presented:
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/fopo/evidence/ev2980825/fopoev57-e.htm#Int-2105400
Evidence from the May 31, 2007 meeting
at which SCH Regional Directors Bill Goulding and Gervais Bouchard and A/Regional Director Al Kathan presented:
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePublication.aspx?SourceId=211480&Lang=1&PARLSES=391&JNT=0&COM=10480
Evidence from the June 05, 2007 meeting
at which Mr. Matthew Bol, Director of Jacobs Consultancy Canada Inc. presented on a 1999 report he completed for Small Craft Harbours:
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/fopo/evidence/ev3011351/fopoev59-e.htm#T1105
General Meetings page of the SCOFO site:
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteeList.aspx?Lang=1&PARLSES=391&JNT=0&...
If any links are broken please advise us.
Directors Meeting, March 2007
A Decade of Progress
Hiltje Binner, Jim Parsons, Rick Hill, Robin Richardson, Liz Mcleod, Cal Hegge, James Boland, Bob Baziuk, Leslie Taylor, Art Childs
Cal Hegge, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, attended the March 26 HAABC Board of Directors meeting in Steveston. Mr. Hegge listened to our concerns about aging infrastructure, dredging, volunteer fatigue and waterfront revitalization.
Mr. Hegge expressed his support of the HAABC and complemented us on our professionalism and commitment. He indicated we are setting a path for the rest of the country. Steveston Harbour staff served us lunch and then we were joined by National SCH staff for a boat tour of Steveston Harbour. Thanks to Mr. Hegge for taking the time to listen to our concerns and to Steveston Harbour for their hospitality.
10th Annual Conference, Jan. 2007
A Decade of Progress
...was the theme of the 10th Annual Harbour Authority Association of BC’s Conference, recently hosted by the Nanaimo Port Authority on Central Vancouver Island. The three-day event was well attended, with over 94 delegates from harbours all along the BC Coast and a large Small Craft Harbours contingent, representing the Pacific Region, Ottawa, Central and Arctic, and the Maritimes.
The event started off with a wine and tappas meet and greet at Tania’s downtown. This event was generously hosted by the Nanaimo Port Authority.
The Conference was held at the Dorchester Hotel in Nanaimo. Thanks to the generous support of SCH we were able to enlist Joe Smith as our Master of Ceremonies again this year. The official start of the Conference began with the HAABC Annual General Meeting. The Board of Directors remained the same with a little cabinet shuffle. Elizabeth McLeod is the new President, Art Childs the Vice President and Janet Rooke the Secretary/Treasurer.
James Boland, Small Craft Harbours Pacific Region, implemented an awards program to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the HAABC. Hiltje Binner from North Island, Linda Franz from Mid Island, Ben Mabberley from South Island, Rick Hill from North Coast, Neil Gustafson from Sunshine Coast and Arnold Walter from the Lower Mainland were recognised for personal excellence. The Pender Harbour Authority received the Award for Economic Development and the Salt Spring Island Harbour Authority received the Award for Environmental Stewardship. Our congratulations go to these deserving individuals and Harbours.
On a National scale, one of the most progressive initiatives last year was the formation of the Harbour Authority Corporation to implement a Canada wide policy for Directors and Officers, and Bodily Injury Insurance. Ben Mabberley, who was a key player in getting this program up and running, presented an update and answered questions from the floor. If anyone has any questions in regards to this program they can contact Ben Mabberley at 250-529-5263, Robin Richardson at 604-666-9923. or Luc Legresley at: appqqha [at] hotmail [dot] com
The highly entertaining and informative Mario Govorchin from the Justice Institute presented a 2½ hour workshop on Conflict Resolution. The crowd was mesmerized as he presented real life situations and solutions to many of the problems we face in running harbours and coping with aggressive and angry clients.
Linda Franz (Campbell River Harbour) and John Hayes (Gibsons Harbour Authority) received Lifetime Membership Awards in recognition of their roles in the HAABC.
SCH Pacific Region sponsored a Board Governance workshop, presented by Alisdair Smith, and created and presented the Ports of Call slide show. Jim Allen provided an electrical workshop. Environment Canada updated us on tidal grid regulations. Hamish Murray (Meteorological Service of Canada) spoke about changes to weather forecasting. Harbour security was covered by Andrew Pitcher of Nanaimo Port Authority and representatives of the Coastal Watch program.
All the delegates, exhibitors and spouses gathered for a delicious salmon and roast beef banquet on Thursday night and danced the night away to a local Nanaimo Artist Anna Lyman. Friday morning concluded with a lively presentation by Shelly Chapelski on Marine Law. The complexity of running our harbours is always emphasized by the popularity of Shelley’s presentations.
9th Annual Conference, Jan. 2006
Harbour Essentials - Safety & Communications
...was the theme of the 9th Annual Harbour Authority Association of BC Convention, recently hosted by the Comox Valley Harbour Authority on Central Vancouver Island.
The three-day event was well attended, with over 92 delegates from harbours all along the BC Coast and a large Small Craft Harbours contingent, representing Pacific Region, Ottawa and Quebec.
The event started off with an eye-opening presentation by Gina Johansen, Safety Officer Fishing Industry Safety and Health (FISH SAFE). The next presentation was from Eric Olsen, a Marine Oil Spill Prevention Specialist from the University of Washington. Eric provided steps for harbours to eliminate pollution-prone boating & harbour operations & distributed a generic EMP (Environmental Management Plan) CD, for harbours to use in developing their own plan.
Also on the schedule were presentations on the Provincial Emergency Preparedness Program and Tsunami information. As most of the harbours on the BC coast are located in the vulnerable Cascadia Subduction Zone, these presenters received a barrage of questions. Environment Canada Managers updated delegates on the new enforcement policy that will see the demise of traditional marine grids and shipyards. Industrial/commercial operations must upgrade to meet tougher standards or close up shop. As a regular presenter to the convention, their message was not new, but enforcement is in place for 2006, which brings this issue to the forefront of harbours and marinas Canada wide.
The very entertaining Shelly Chapelski, a partner in the Vancouver firm Bromley Chapelski, outlined the process in collecting on overdue moorage and removing a problem vessel from a harbour. Never an easy task, Shelly’s lecture had a common sense approach that managers & boards can take back to their harbours & put into place.
The HAABC was incorporated in 1997 by a key group of managers and board members who dedicated many hours and much energy into creating the association. During the convention time was set aside to honour the contributions of retiring directors, Linda Franz (Campbell River) and Stan Watterson (Steveston). Mo Nordstrom (Comox Harbour) a founding member of the steering committee in 1996, received a Lifetime Membership Award and was thanked for her continued dedication to the associations’ mandate.
The late Dick Maughan, French Creek, served as a founding member of the HAABC, and was the first to represent the association on the PRHAAC (Pacific Regional Harbour Authority Advisory Committee) and NHAAAC (National Harbour Authority Advisory Committee). To honour his dedication the association created a scholarship fund in his memory. Information regarding the scholarship, HAABC news, Forum, maps, forms and contacts are available at: www.haa.bc.ca All attending were encouraged to access the website regularly and post their comments and news on the Forum. The extensive infrastructure that has been put in place since the original group met in 1997 is a testament to the vision and drive of our volunteer board members.
Newly elected HAABC President Bob Baziuk from Steveston thanked Comox Harbour staff and Leslie Taylor, HAABC’s Executive Secretary, for their hospitality, and thanked the ladies for successfully hosting a very professional, educational and interactive convention. Also introduced was the rest of the HAABC new executive; Vice President Hiltje Binner, Port McNeill, Secretary/Treasurer Liz McLeod, Comox, Art Childs, False Creek, Janet Rooke, Tsheum Harbour (Sidney), Rick Hill, Port Edward, and Jim Parsons, Powell River.
Also scheduled throughout the three days were meals, ports-of-calls, maintenance workshops, meals, SCH updates, draws, meals, exhibitor displays, PRHAAC reports, NHAAC reports, meals, economist evaluation, door prizes, and again, more meals! Friday afternoon concluded with a lively communications workshop, then all delegates, exhibitors and spouses gathered for a sumptuous seafood buffet (donated by local fishermen) and took a turn on the dance floor to a rock band aptly named “Pacific Disturbance.”
James Boland, Regional Director, Strategic Initiatives, introduced SCH staff, commented on the improvements to the condition and safety of harbour infrastructure, and credited a majority of the success of the program to the commitment of the approximately 300 active volunteers who give over 13, 000 hours of their time to their harbours annually. The annual convention especially highlights the exceptional working relationship that exists between the Harbour Authority Board volunteers, Harbour Staff and Small Craft Harbour Pacific Region. Incredibly supportive of each other, there are sincere accolades given back and forth and the positive energy radiating from this convention has set the tone for the rest of the year.
It’s onward and upward in Pacific Region, so stand by for more West Coast success stories!