FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2022
TURNING THE TIDE ANNOUNCES 2022 RECIPIENTS FOR 5th ANNUAL NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR MARINE INDUSTRY AWARDS
ST. JOHN’S, NL – The 2022 recipients for the prestigious Turning the Tide Marine Industry Awards, honoring excellence and innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador’s marine industry, were announced in St. John’s today. Turning the Tide Chairman Paul Antle and Founder Chris Collingwood were joined for the announcement by fellow board members at the Emera Innovation Exchange at the MUN Signal Hill Campus.
“As we ready for the 5th Annual Awards Gala, we are so pleased to announce the 2022 recipients. We received a record number of qualified nominations this year, with very diverse roles in the sector, which speaks to the vibrancy of our marine industry,” said Paul Antle. “2022 is a year filled with hope and optimism for the future, as we see the end of pandemic protocols and uncertainty. We welcome the opportunity to come together in celebration of this incredible industry.”
At the Gala on September 22nd, there will be a presentation of funding to the Home from the Sea Foundation. This is an annual donation.
“As a province, our heritage and culture is largely built on our relationship with the sea and how it has always played a significant role in our lives,” added Chris Collingwood “So, it’s fitting that the Turning the Tide Marine Industry Awards play an important role in our commitment to community through the support of the John C. Crosbie Sealers Memorial in Elliston. This organization works to ensure that the stories of our people, and the connection to our marine industry, is handed down to future generations.”
The Awards program consists of five awards that recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed to the development of the marine industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The 2022 Award recipients are as follows:
- Industry Leadership & Excellence: Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Company
- Industry Lifetime Achievement: The Honourable Richard Cashin
- Innovation Leadership Award: Virtual Marine
- Award of Historical Significance: Crow’s Nest
- Next Wave Leadership Award: Jasmine Saunders
Additional information regarding each award and its recipient is included in the backgrounder below.
Awards will be presented at the 5th Annual Awards Turning the Tide Marine Industry Gala on Thursday, September 22nd, 2022 at the St. John’s Convention Center.
Tickets, and additional information, are available at www.turningthetideawards.ca or by calling (709) 753-0794.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
June Perry
Pilot
709-682-2682
Erin Curran
Pilot
709-690-2959
BACKGROUNDER
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE AWARD
Awarded to an outstanding business that has demonstrated leadership, innovation and integrity in its own growth and in support of the industry.
2022 Award: Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Company
From humble beginnings, the Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Company has grown to be an industry leader, operating a mix of land-based processing facilities in five Labrador communities, four of which are Indigenous, from L’Anse au Clair to Cartwright. It boasts a modern, impressive harvesting fleet, including inshore and mid-shore vessels, and the MV Osprey III, a state-of-the art green offshore vessel which harvests cold water shrimp along the Labrador coastline up to Baffin Island and Nunavut.
Over the years, the company has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure and today services more than 600 fish harvesters, employs approximately 450 people – upwards of 70% of whom are Indigenous – and has sales and assets in excess of $120 million CDN. Its operations are the lifeline of Labrador’s coastal communities. The company has used innovative approaches to help build a robust and diverse commercial marine supply and service sector in vibrant, active communities.
The Labrador Shrimp Company stands as a leader in the production of many species of North Atlantic seafood. It is one of the largest producers of shrimp in the province and processes other shellfish, groundfish and pelagics. Their products are sold globally with the highest quality standards.
INDUSTRY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Awarded to an individual who is viewed as having demonstrated exemplary leadership in driving excellence in their sector and has contributed to the positive image and betterment of the industry.
2022 Award: The Honourable Richard Cashin
The Honourable Richard Cashin is a labour leader who advanced the rights of inshore fish harvesters – effects that are still being felt by the industry today. Richard transformed the social fabric and lives of those living in rural Newfoundland and Labrador in ways that are still evident. Because of Cashin’s actions, fish harvesters were able to break the stranglehold held by fish merchants for centuries and were finally able to negotiate their own prices. Workers in fish plants began to negotiate better wages for their work and workers on trawlers were now able to bargain for better wages and safe, clean working conditions. Due to Richard’s efforts, decades later, professional fish harvesters are now the rural economic drivers, with purchasing power to support young families, new homes, vehicles, and local economic development. A stark contrast to the centuries of hardships experienced by harvesters prior to Cashin’s involvement in organizing the industry.
In 2019, Richard was invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, recognizing Cashin’s significant contributions to the province. Throughout his life, and even after his political career ended, Richard remained fiercely involved in provincial and federal politics, voicing his opinion and acting as critic throughout the years. His leadership gave others a voice, inspiring action amongst those in our rural and coastal communities.
INNOVATION LEADERSHIP AWARD
Awarded to a company or individual that is entrepreneurial and has taken on the risk and personal sacrifice that so often defines the road to a novel solution. The company has pushed through significant barriers to benefit them and the industry.
2022 Award: Virtual Marine
Virtual Marine specializes in the development of state-of-the-art maritime safety training simulators. Virtual Marine’s safety training simulators offer skill enhancing, hands on, realistic, risk-free training. With NL having one of the harshest and most dangerous offshore environments on the planet, this organization recognized that technology could be used to offer the most realistic simulations for safety training of offshore workers and would ultimately contribute to saving lives. When a company is founded with the sole vision of helping offshore operators run their businesses as safely as possible, this purpose drives them to be leaders in their field. With global expansion efforts, including a training center in Scotland and clients located worldwide, they have shared their vision globally, and have positively influenced offshore safety culture in areas where safety regulations are often underdeveloped and outdated.
With a team of twenty local employees in NL, Virtual Marine continuously invests in its people and demonstrates a commitment to the local economy.
AWARD OF HISTORICAL MARINE SIGNIFICANCE
Awarded to an individual, organization or community that through either a singular accomplishment, or a multitude of activities, has turned the tides of history; or, through demonstrated perseverance and strength of character has positively impacted the fortunes of others, contributing significantly to the province’s marine industry.
2022 Award: The Crow’s Nest
The Crow’s Nest is a private club which has been in operation for 70 years. Beginning as a club for visiting and stationed Navy Officers during World War II, the Crow’s Nest is rich in history; the Club has become a museum, housing hundreds of military artifacts. The Crow’s Nest is also listed as a National Historic Site. Provincially, the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador has presented to the Club the Manning Award for Excellence in the Public Presentation of Historic Places. The Crow’s Nest Military Artifacts Association is recognized as a museum by the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and a participant in the Virtual Museum of Canada.
NEXT WAVE LEADERSHIP AWARD
This award recognizes the importance of youth in growing and sustaining our marine industry and highlights those who are making waves. It is presented to a young professional under the age of 35, who has displayed great leadership qualities and who has already made noteworthy contributions to the sector.
2022 Award: Jasmine Saunders
As a young Indigenous woman working in the marine industry, Jasmine has played an integral role in developing relationships with indigenous partners, especially as it relates to indigenous cadet recruitment and advancement. Jasmine joined Horizon Maritime in January 2021 as HR Coordinator where, amongst her HR duties, she is primarily focused on the development of a cadet program on the Polar Prince. She has worked closely with the HR team to get up to speed on marine recruitment and was heavily focused on community engagement with all indigenous partners from coast to coast to assess and select candidates for the program. Given her exemplary work, she was recently promoted to the position of Business Manager for Miawpukek Horizon.
Jasmine’s work has directly and positively impacted the industry’s seafarer shortage by meeting Indigenous seafarers (both prospective and current) in their own communities. She has helped high school students understand the benefits of joining our industry and guided them through the process of enrolling in certificate programs.
She has an open-door policy and is able to put a face to Horizon Maritime that women and Indigenous peoples can identify with. Jasmine is great with people, always does her best in everything she does and is a valued member of our team. She has been instrumental in the development of Miawpukek Horizon, building the crewing aspect of the partnership, and assisting in the pursuit of contracts and projects which benefit Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples alike.
THE 2022 TURNING THE TIDE MARINE INDUSTRY AWARDS ARE PROUDLY PRESENTED BY:
