Join us!
Marine Month in Canada is a free educational program focusing on marine careers, designed primarily for youth in Grades 5-12 who want a behind-the-scenes look at unique opportunities within the marine industry.
Canada has 243,000 kilometres of coastline and 20 percent of the world’s surface freshwater, and its rivers discharge close to 9 percent of the world’s renewable water supply. So much water allows for a diversity of marine industries which represent a source of economic growth, job creation, and innovation. Most young people in Canada, however, have never heard anything about its wide variety of careers. That’s what inspired Marine Month in Canada.
Over the next 10 years, 43 per cent of the current marine workforce is expected to retire. The Canadian marine sector will need to hire 19,000 workers onboard vessels and many more ashore to keep up with industry demand — workers with interests and skills in navigation, engineering, the environment, technology, security, logistics, professional services, tourism and trades. To spark curiosity, Canadian Geographic Education and the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation invite you to join us during the month of October to learn more about the industries, careers, sustainability initiatives, advanced technologies, adventures and fulfilling futures that are possible when you Imagine Marine.
Participation in Marine Month is free. The program is designed for Grade 5-12 classes in Canada, but all learners are welcome!
Schedule of events
- All events are virtual and last 30 minutes.
- Register for as many events as you like! All educators and learners in classrooms, homeschools and informal educational settings are invited to join.
- There are two ways to participate in an event: as a featured class on camera or off-camera via YouTube. If you choose to participate on camera, you will be notified by a staff member of Can Geo Education if your class is selected as a featured class. If you participate off-camera, you will receive a YouTube link to watch the presentation and ask questions in the chat.
Note: if you are unable to join the live events due to a scheduling conflict, please register for events that you are interested in nonetheless. We will share recordings of the events which you can watch at your convenience!
- October 9 – 1:00 p.m. ET – British Columbia Coast Pilots Ltd.
- Explore the expertise of BC Coast Pilots in safely navigating large vessels through the complex waterways of British Columbia.
- October 22 – 11:00 a.m. ET – Canadian Coast Guard
- Learn about the crucial role the Canadian Coast Guard plays in safeguarding our coastlines and assisting in maritime emergencies.
- October 23 – 1:00 pm ET – Royal Canadian Navy
- Discover how the Royal Canadian Navy protects Canada’s waters and supports global maritime security.
- October 24 – 1:00 pm ET – Port of Montreal
- Uncover the importance of the Port of Montreal in facilitating international trade and supporting Canada’s economy.
- October 28 – 11:00 a.m ET – Marine Atlantic
- Find out how Marine Atlantic connects communities and supports economic activity through its vital ferry services.
- October 29 – 11:00 a.m. ET – Canada Steamship Lines
- Explore the operations of Canada Steamship Lines and their role in transporting goods across the Great Lakes and beyond.
Contest
Our speakers want to thank you and your students for taking time out of your busy schedules to join them during their live presentations, so this year, we’re launching a brand new participation contest with a $500 cash prize!
Teachers are invited to submit one contest entry per live event they attend with their students, up to a maximum of three (3) contest entries per teacher for the duration of the 2024 program. One winner from all program participants will be randomly selected from all contest participants, and will be notified by November 6, 2024.
To be eligible, teachers must have registered for one or more live events, and must attend those live events with their class. Classes must consist of three (3) or more students. Instructions on how to apply will be emailed to registered teachers once the program begins.
The winning teacher will receive a cheque payable to their school which they can use to enhance student learning beyond the Marine Month in Canada program.
2024 learning resources
The following resources have been designed to celebrate the unique characteristics of all six Marine Month partners. The activities are fun, quick and informative — perfect for use before or after watching the live presentations!
Past years
See below for learning materials and event recordings from past years of Marine Month.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Marine Month program, please contact us at [email protected].
