Adopt a Ship is returning in 2027!
Now in its sixth year, Adopt a Ship connects students across Canada with the Canadian Coast Guard, providing opportunities to explore marine careers, learn about Coast Guard operations, and discover what life and work at sea can look like.
The 2026 program has now concluded. Recordings from this year’s presentations are available to watch on demand, featuring Canadian Coast Guard professionals sharing their experiences and expertise on topics including maritime careers, Search and Rescue, marine safety, environmental response, Incident Management, and more.
Adopt a Ship will return in 2027. More information about the next program will be available closer to the launch.
Note: Scroll down the page to access free educational resources and watch recordings from the 2026 program and previous years.
2026 Presentation Recordings
The 2026 Adopt a Ship presentations were recorded in advance with select classrooms, giving students the opportunity to engage directly with presenters, ask questions, and participate in discussions with Canadian Coast Guard professionals.
The recorded sessions have been edited into videos that can be viewed on demand. Each presentation features photos and footage from the Canadian Coast Guard, along with questions and discussion from participating students.
While the program is designed primarily for Grades 5–8, the recordings and educational resources are available to all educators and learners, including classrooms, homeschool groups, and informal learning environments.
Watch the 2026 Adopt a Ship recordings below or on the Canadian Geographic Education YouTube channel.
- Session 1: Women in Maritime Careers
Presenter: Maureen Kelly, Deputy Marine Superintendent | Language: English
A personal testimonial exploring what it means to build a career in Canada’s maritime sector, and the opportunities the CCG offers women across the country.
Watch the Recording
- Session 2: Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS)
Presenter: Pierre Giroux | Language: French
An inside look at how the CCG manages marine traffic and communication across Canadian waters — delivered in French.
Watch the Recording
- Session 3: Day in the Life at a Search and Rescue (SAR) Station
Presenter: André Belcourt | Language: English
A day in the life at a CCG Search and Rescue station — from readiness protocols to real-world response operations.
Watch the Recording
- Session 4: Get to Know Incident Management
Presenter: Brandy Gladson, Superintendent, Incident Management | Language: English
An introduction to how the CCG manages marine incidents through its Incident Command structure, and the critical role coordination plays in emergency response.
Watch the Recording
- Session 5: CCG Academy
Presenter: Samantha Gillis | Language: English
Discover life at the Canadian Coast Guard Academy: training programs, cadet life, and career pathways for the next generation of marine officers.
Watch the Recording
- Session 6: CCG Academy / Académie de la GCC
Presenter: Sandrine Sombie | Language: French
Une présentation complète sur l’Académie de la Garde côtière canadienne — formations, vie de cadet et possibilités de carrière. / A full overview of the CCG Academy delivered in French.
Watch the Recording
- Session 7: Marine Environmental and Hazards Response (MEHR) & Baltic Sea Operations
Presenter: Bruce English | Language: English
An expert look at how the CCG responds to marine environmental emergencies and hazardous spills, including operational insights from Baltic Sea operations.
Watch the Recording
- Session 8: Meet the Commissioner — LIVE SESSION
Presenter: Kevin Brosseau, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard | Language: English / French
An exclusive live session with Commissioner Kevin Brosseau. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the head of the Canadian Coast Guard.
Watch the Recording
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
- CCGS Ann Harvey
- CCGS Earl Grey
- CCGS Cape Roger NL SAR
- CCGS Jean Goodwill NS SAR
Questions?
If you have questions about the Adopt a Ship program, please contact us at [email protected].
