Adopt a Ship 2026 is now underway!
Now in its sixth year, the program continues to connect students across Canada with the
realities of life and work at sea.
This free, nationwide program invites students in Grades 5–8 to explore Canadian Coast
Guard operations, discover marine careers, and gain an authentic glimpse into the marine
environment.
This year’s edition introduces enhancements to improve accessibility and reach for
classrooms across the country. Presentations were developed by Canadian Geographic
Education in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard and recorded with select
classrooms to create an engaging and flexible learning experience. Following the program,
all sessions will be released publicly on YouTube, alongside curriculum-aligned educational
activities available in both official languages.
Registration remains open.
The program will conclude with a special live session featuring the Commissioner of the
Canadian Coast Guard — a highlight event you won’t want to miss.
Presentation schedule
All presentations are approximately 25 minutes and will be published on the Canadian
Geographic Education YouTube channel.
This year, sessions were recorded in advance with select classrooms, giving students the
opportunity to engage directly with presenters, ask questions, and participate in discussions
with marine sector professionals. These recordings have been developed into final videos
that can be viewed anytime.
Each video includes photos and footage, as well as a Q&A segment featuring questions from
participating students and those submitted through the online form (below).
The program will conclude with a live closing session featuring the Commissioner of the
Canadian Coast Guard. Registration remains open, and the date will be announced shortly.
Unclassified – Non-Classifié
Educators are encouraged to register for all sessions of interest using the link below. Video
links will be shared upon release.
While designed primarily for Grades 5–8, the program is open to all educators and learners,
including classrooms, homeschool groups, and informal learning environments.
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.
- 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.
Status: Recorded — link to be added upon release - 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.
Status: Recorded — lien à venir / link to be added upon release - 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.
Status: Recorded — link to be added upon release - 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.
Status: Recorded — link to be added upon release - 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.
Status: Recorded — link to be added upon release - 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.Status: Recorded — lien à venir / link to be added upon release
- 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.
Status: Recorded — link to be added upon release - 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. Joining details provided upon
registration.
Status: LIVE — Tuesday, June 9. Register now to receive details.
REGISTRATION
Registrations are still open! Classes, groups, and individual students who register before the
program closes will receive official CCG swag. Sign up today and share the link with
teachers, parents, and youth in your network.
Every registration helps us reach more students, raise awareness of the Canadian Coast
Guard's mission, and inspire the next generation of marine professionals.
Register here: https://cangeoeducation.ca/en/aas-registration/
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].
