On September 13, we were pleased to welcome Manou Bernard, Directrice générale chez Comité sectoriel de main-d’œuvre de l’industrie maritime (CSMOIM), for a visit to the Mariners’ House in Montreal. The visit was organized by Dr. Jason Zuidema, who will be serving alongside Ms. Bernard on a panel at the upcoming Imagine Marine Conference in Ottawa. Their panel will focus on seafarers’ health and wellbeing, making the visit an ideal opportunity to discuss how centers like the Mariner’s House support seafarers when they come into port, offering essential services such as transportation, communication tools, and a warm welcome.
Ms. Bernard provided insights into the work of the CSMOIM, which has been dedicated since 2001 to supporting maritime employers and the workforce through projects aimed at developing human resources, enhancing skills, and promoting maritime trades. By fostering collaboration between employers, workers’ organizations, and government representatives, the CSMOIM helps to address workforce challenges such as recruitment and training, and works closely with educational institutions to improve access to continuing education.
Both Ms. Bernard and Dr. Zuidema will soon be presenting at the Imagine Marine Conference organized by the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF), which will take place from October 2-3, 2024, in Ottawa. This national event will bring together marine sector stakeholders to share best practices and develop strategies to tackle the talent shortages facing Canada’s maritime industry. One key session, Workplace Wellness, will explore initiatives for improving mental and physical health support in the marine work environment, with contributions from experts such as Patti Merrigan of Marine Atlantic, Dana Tremblay of B.C. Ferries, and Chris Given of the Seafarers’ International Union of Canada alongside Manou Bernard and Dr. Jason Zuidema
The visit to the Mariners’ House highlighted the important role that organizations like the CSMOIM and the Mariner’s House play in supporting seafarers’ welfare. These partnerships are crucial for ensuring that seafarers receive the care, resources, and support they need while working in the challenging maritime industry.
About CSMOIM: https://www.csmoim.qc.ca/fr/a-propos/a-propos-du-comite-sectoriel
About the Imagine Marine Conference: https://imagine-marine.ca/im-conference
About NAMMA: https://namma.org/
About Mariners’ House: https://www.marinershouse.ca/home
