The 2026 Adopt a Ship program is coming, see you next year!
There will be five videos produced by Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard that highlight the diversity, skills, and careers, that can be found in Canada’s marine industry. This years program will be wrapped up by live presentations from the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard that will include a live Q&A from any participating classes that are able to join! The videos are designed primarily for Grades 5-7 and will cover topics such as life at the Canadian Coast Guard College, science and research on board a ship, navigation, radio communication and safety at sea. However, all learners, including older students, homeschool groups, and informal educational settings are invited to participate. Classes who are not able to join in the “recording sessions” will have an opportunity to ask questions via a submission form that will be found on this page in January 2026.
We will be looking for as many participating classes as possible to join our industry professionals in recording their videos that will be posted on our YouTube. So please register for ALL presentations of interest using the form below. This will ensure you receive all necessary communications from Can Geo Education.
Note: scroll down to access our free learning resources and watch recordings of past events.
Presentation schedule
All presentations will produced and posted on the Canadian Geographic Education YouTube and will be approximately 25 minutes. This year the videos will be conducted ahead of time with classes that sign up to meet the presenters and then final videos will be made to be viewed by your classes whenever you are able. The classes that are able to meet the presenters will have the chance to ask questions and join a discussion with industry leaders from across Canada’s marine sector. The videos will include photos and videos, a Q&A session and questions that are received through the online question form (found below).
We ask that participants register for all presentations that are of interest using the link below. The staff at Canadian Geographic Education will email details to the classes that wish to meet the presenters to organize the “recording sessions”, and classes that are unable to join will be send the links to the videos once they are released. Although the presentations are designed primarily for Grades 5-7, all educators and learners, in classrooms, homeschools, and informal educational settings are welcome to join.
Note: If you are unable to join the live recording sessions, please register for those that you are interested in regardless. We will share the recordings, which you can watch at your convenience.
- Presenter: TBD
- Information coming soon!
- Watch the recording HERE. (link will be updated when the video is available)
- Presenter: TBD
- Information coming soon!
- Watch the recording HERE. (link will be updated when the video is available)
- Presenter: TBD
- Information coming soon!
- Watch the recording HERE. (link will be updated when the video is available)
- Presenter: TBD
- Information coming soon!
- Watch the recording HERE. (link will be updated when the video is available)
- Presenter: Deputy Commissioner Andy Smith
- Deputy Commissioner Smith was appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Strategy and Shipbuilding with the Canadian Coast Guard effective August 28, 2017.Deputy Commissioner Smith joined Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) where he was Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property. In this capacity, he provided strategic leadership and operational level direction related to the management of the Public Services and Procurement portfolio of buildings and engineering assets.
Previously, Deputy Commissioner Smith held the rank of Rear Admiral as the Chief of Military Personnel at the Department of National Defence (DND). In his career at DND, he held positions of increasing responsibility, including Commanding Officer of Fleet Maintenance at Maritime Atlantic Headquarters and Director General, Maritime Personnel and Readiness at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
- Watch the recording HERE. (link will be updated when the video is available)
- Deputy Commissioner Smith was appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Strategy and Shipbuilding with the Canadian Coast Guard effective August 28, 2017.Deputy Commissioner Smith joined Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) where he was Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property. In this capacity, he provided strategic leadership and operational level direction related to the management of the Public Services and Procurement portfolio of buildings and engineering assets.
Help us build the program!
We are collecting any and all questions you have for the presenters in this year’s program!
Do you want to know what it’s like to work on board a research vessel? Are you curious about the education and life experience it takes to become a Commanding Officer? Do you want to know the hardest part about being the Commissioner of the Coast Guard? Interested in opportunities that have paid education?
Submit your questions using the form below, and we will share them with our presenters during the Q&A sessions:
Educational resources
Below are a teacher’s guide and student workbook with learning activities that can be used in conjunction with the presentations or on their own. Students will have the chance to follow active Canadian Coast Guard vessels and to complete learning activities to discover what it’s like to be a part of a CCG crew! The teacher’s guide contains answers to the questions in the student workbook.
*Scroll to the bottom of the page to see a list of active CCG vessels.
Recordings of past events
Check back here to view recordings of the live presentations you were unable to attend.
Active Canadian Coast Guard Vessels
This is a list of the active Canadian Coast Guard vessels that can be found across Canada! To find out more about the Canadian Coast Guard fleet click here!
Western Region
- All Cape class vessels (SAR)
- Sea Island hovercraft station
- CCGS Sir John Franklin
- CCGS Captain Goddard M.S.M
- CCGS M. Charles M.B
Central Region
Atlantic Region
Questions?
If you have questions about the Adopt a Ship program, please contact us at [email protected].
