As per the press release of CMAC, Gina McKay, Program Manager for the Fish SAFE program in British Columbia has been awarded with Transport Canada’s 2012 Marine Safety Award at the Spring National Meeting of the Canadian Marine Advisory Committee (CMAC) in Ottawa, Ontario. The Transport Canada Marine Safety Award was established to boost the awareness of marine safety in Canada and to recognize persons, groups, companies, organizations, agencies or departments that have contributed, in an exceptional way, to this objective.
Marine safety must emphasize one of these categories: An unusually high level of performance in the interests of Canadian marine safety over an extended period of time (3 years or longer); The successful completion of a program or research project which has had a significant impact on Canadian marine safety; A single act or effort which is so outstanding that it warrants recognition, e.g. exceptional contribution of expertise, time, skills, facilities, etc.
Donald Roussel, Director General of Transport Canada Marine Safety, presented the award to Ms. McKay in the opening plenary of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council. The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, acknowledged Ms. McKay’s exceptionally high level of performance in the interest of Canadian marine safety and the successful development and implementation of both the Fishing Stability Education program and the Safest Catch program.
Ms. McKay is recognized by the industry as the energy and vision behind the development of this industry-driven program that features fishermen trained as safety advisors to mentor their peers in the development of safety programs on board fishing vessels. McKay said that the west coast fishing industry has worked hard over the last eight years to take ownership of safety. She thanked both those who have supported her and those who have challenged her in her pursuance of safety programs.
