Latest News

Celebrating World Maritime Day at the Port of Vancouver

September 27, 2021

Free, in-person family-friendly event recognizes local maritime culture with musical performances, a boat parade, an on-water demonstration, and more! All activities to be presented and enjoyed in a safe and distanced way.

Vancouver, B.C.: Join the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority on October 2 to celebrate the third annual World Maritime Day event at the Port of Vancouver! With a variety of family-friendly activities to enjoy, head to Canada Place and commemorate the maritime community that makes up our port city.

World Maritime Day was established in 1978 by the United Nations to mark the 20th anniversary of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention’s entry into force. Celebrations are held throughout the world every year to recognize the international maritime industry’s contribution to shipping safety, maritime security, and the marine environment.

This year’s theme is “Seafarers: At the core of shipping’s future.” It seeks to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed extraordinary demands on seafarers, with hundreds of thousands of men and women away stranded on ships for months on end, emphasizing the importance of the seafarers’ well-being and their safety and security on board the ships.

“Celebrating World Maritime Day and the essential work of seafarers is especially important this year as the pandemic has led to challenging times and hardships for seafarers,” said Robin Silvester, president and chief executive officer of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “We look forward to celebrating the significant role the maritime sector, port community, and industry play in the daily lives of Canadians by getting goods to and from the Port of Vancouver.”

World Maritime Day at the Port of Vancouver will include:

A traditional welcome from Chief Janice George, Squamish Nation
Boat parade of vessels from local maritime agencies and organizations
On-water demonstration
Airbrush tattoos
Snack carts
Maritime-focused videos featured in the Discovery Centre

Performances by:

Event details:

Date: Saturday, October 2, 2021
Time: 12 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Location: Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver, 999 Canada Place (North Point and the Port of Vancouver Discovery Centre)

Sponsors

World Maritime Day at the Port of Vancouver is brought to you by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, with support from Global BC.

More information is available at: portvancouver.com/worldmaritimeday

Media contact:

Matti Polychronis

Senior Communications Advisor
778-928-5818
[email protected]

About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Port of Vancouver

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the federal agency responsible for the stewardship of the Port of Vancouver. Like all Canada Port Authorities, we are accountable to the federal minister of transport, and operate pursuant to the Canada Marine Act with a mandate to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver, while protecting the environment and considering local communities. The port authority is structured as a non-share corporation, is financially self-sufficient and does not rely on tax dollars for operations. Our revenues come from port terminals and tenants who lease port lands, and from port users who pay various fees such as harbour dues. Profits are reinvested in port infrastructure. The port authority has control over the use of port land and water, which includes more than 16,000 hectares of water, over 1,500 hectares of land, and approximately 350 kilometres of shoreline. Located on the southwest coast of British Columbia in Canada, the Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet, bordering 16 municipalities and intersecting the traditional territories and treaty lands of several Coast Salish First Nations. The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest port, and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo. Enabling the trade of approximately $240 billion in goods with more than 170 countries, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.

See All News