The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has joined the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF) as its newest member. This partnership represents a significant step in the CMCF’s efforts to expand its activities on the West Coast and create dynamic and innovative solutions for building a diverse, inclusive, and future-ready marine workforce.
Over the next 10 years, 43% of Canadian seafarers are expected to retire. It is forecasted that an estimated 19,000 seafaring positions onboard Canadian commercial vessels will need to be filled, with thousands more shoreside marine-related job vacancies. The CMCF is addressing these labour shortages by raising awareness of and creating pathways into marine careers in collaboration with marine stakeholders, including shipowners, government, academic and training institutions, unions and labour organizations, industry association and organizations, and ports, terminals that operate in Canada’s East and West Coasts, the Great-Lakes-St. Lawrence, and Arctic regions.
The addition of BCIT to the CMCF’s membership is an important part of CMCF’s workforce development efforts. “We are delighted to welcome BCIT to the CMCF,” says Julia Fields, Executive Director of the CMCF. “Their expertise and commitment to training the next generation of marine professionals will be invaluable in helping us achieve our mission of promoting workforce excellence, awareness, and sustainable growth in the marine sector.”
“As one of Canada’s largest polytechnic institutes, BCIT is committed to providing students with applied and industry-focused skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the ever-evolving marine sector,” shares Dhaval Shah, Associate Dean, Marine, BCIT.
The BCIT Marine Campus is the centre of training for the maritime industry in Western Canada. It offers programs in navigation, marine engineering, seamanship, and maritime safety and security. With bridge and engine room simulators and an indoor pool, students gain experience with realistic scenarios in a safe environment.
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About the British Columbia Institute of Technology
For nearly 60 years, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has been delivering flexible, relevant, and future-proof education that prepares learners to provide applied solutions to industry challenges. As one of BC’s largest post-secondary institutes with five campuses, 300+ programs, and over 45,000 students enrolled each year, BCIT connects education, industry, and government in building an agile workforce with sustained and meaningful impact. The BCIT curriculum is developed through close consultation with industry, and delivered by instructors who have direct, hands-on experience in their fields. Students gain the technical skills, real-world experience, and problem-solving ability needed to lead innovation in their workplaces and communities.
About the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation
The Canadian Marine Careers Foundation brings together private sector employers, unions, educational institutions, as well as key public sector partners with maritime responsibilities, to jointly promote careers in Canada’s marine sector. Through its Imagine Marine campaign, the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation is reaching out to deliver the message of job opportunities in the marine sector for young people, second career seekers, new citizens and equity-deserving groups.
The CMCF’s strategic priorities are to expand the Imagine Marine campaign and increase career awareness through videos, targeted advertising, media outreach, and a suite of engaging educational projects and outreach to students, teachers, parents and second-career seekers. The Foundation is also committed to facilitating the sharing and development of best practices, resources and programs to improve workforce development/skills training. and providing access to data and labour studies for informed decision-making.