Wharfside
May 2013
In this issue Employee Recognition Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Join us for Employee Recognition Day. . . . 1 Howe Sound Chinook Program. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations Community Celebration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Marked contrast between work and play makes for a “perfect life”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Chef Dean!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Brain Safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Supporting Cancer Research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Safety ‘InSites’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 A bit of business and a lot of pleasure!. . . . . 5 New study a result of collaboration and common goal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Salmon barbeque is already cookin’!. . . . . . . 6 Lots of reasons to celebrate in Klemtu . . . . 6
Did you Know? The name Canada is derived from a Huron-Iroquois word (kanata) meaning village.
Trivia time! What is the shortest war in (recorded) history? Answer on Page 4
Comments about this Newsletter? Please email comments, articles and ideas to Ian Roberts, Communications Manager at ian.roberts@marineharvest.com
Employee Recognition Day Marine Harvest Canada has gone through some challenging times over the past eighteen months; with sales price below our cost of production. Too Dean Dobrinsky often, when a Human Resources Director company is going through a difficult period, it becomes a time to “hunker down” and simply do our best to keep the business going. Recognizing excellent effort, thanking people for their hard work and allowing ourselves to feel good about what we are doing in spite of poor market conditions can be a difficult task. Admittedly, we have not done a stellar job of thanking our staff for their continued efforts to make Marine Harvest Canada a great company. Over the past year, we have not only persevered through these challenges but have rose above and delivered some phenomenal results in 2012. These results have laid the groundwork for some really
positive outcomes in 2013 and beyond. The Senior Management Team (SMT) has been looking for an opportunity to bring us together, to say thank you, and to recognize your efforts. To do so, we are holding an Employee Recognition Event on May 31 at the Campbell River Community Centre. At this lunch and afternoon event, we want to take the time to properly thank you, to acknowledge our long term service employees and our 2012 top performers. As well, this event is an opportunity through the “People’s Choice Awards” for all of us to recognize colleagues who have truly risen above. I would encourage you to nominate your fellow employees and provide the SMT some very good options to choose from. While we know that not everyone will be able to attend the event, we hope that everyone who is available to attend will come, share some good food and enjoy an afternoon with your coworkers. For those who are unable to attend, please accept our heartfelt thanks for your continued hard work and contribution to our success.
Join us for Employee Recognition Day Marine Harvest Canada is hosting a luncheon to recognize our 2012 long service employees (5/10/15/20+ years of service). In addition, we will be having our first ever Marine Harvest Employee Awards, including some “People’s Choice” awards – for which we are asking your help. Please see your manager for a nomination form and please nominate your peers. Deadline is May 17th.
WHEN: Friday, May 31st, 2013 LUNCH SERVED: 11:30am AWARDS: 1:00pm-4:00pm WHERE: Campbell River Community Centre Please RSVP to Suzi.Gaskill@marineharvest. com to confirm your attendance. (transportation is being arranged for Port Hardy staff)
Howe Sound Chinook Program Submitted by Jordan Uittenbogaard, Operations Manager, Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery
The Howe Sound Chinook program is a unique program based out of Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery which supports various fisheries in British Columbia. Some of these fisheries include a recreational fishery in Howe Sound, a First Nations fishery in the Cheakamus River, and the program is also know to contribute to the conservation of the depleting Chinook salmon stocks in the Squamish watershed. The original brood stock for this program comprised of Chinook sub-stocks from the Squamish River. These stocks included the Squamish, Ashlu, Mamquam, and Cheakamus Rivers. These white fleshed Chinook are captured via seine nets at various locations throughout Howe Sound. The Chinook are then transferred from their salt water habitat to the hatchery groundwater ponds where they are held until maturity and then spawned. In recent years 400,000 to 1,000,000 juvenile Chinook are reared in fresh
Marine Harvest Canada was pleased to donate this 15 metre pen system to the Howe Sound Chinook program to assist in salmon enhancement efforts. The pen system was moved from Marine Harvest’s Conville Point site to Squamish in January. It was reassembled at Porteau Cove Park and put to sea this spring just in time for delivery of Chinook smolts
water and released into sea pens located at Porteau Cove Park just off the Sea to Sky highway. Before the sea pen rearing, the juvenile Chinook are raised to approximately 3 grams and are vaccinated against Vibrio. Once the fry reach an average of 7.5 grams in size they are transferred to sea pens and reared to 9-15 grams. The juveniles react well to the low
salinity levels in Howe Sound and thrive with the plankton blooms in the marine environment. Once the juveniles are released they migrate to the north Pacific and when they return as adults to Howe Sound, they stage for a period of time before dispersing to the Squamish River system.
Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations Community Celebration
Ernie Henderson and Tina Gonsky at the G&N Community Celebration 2
G&N Nations invited Marine Harvest to its recent community celebration. The intent of the evening gathering was to learn about and celebrate the various programs, projects and activities happening in and with the G&N Nations. The evening included the premiere of a video about the recent G&N MarineHarvestCanada.com
Youth Land Use Planning project which showcased the work of youth from the Eke Me-xi School. Marine Harvest had an information booth at the evening to discuss career opportunities with the Nations’ members.
Marked contrast between work and play makes for a “perfect life” the time,” she says. Patti’s salmon farming career began when she needed a break from her art (more about that shortly) and applied at the processing plant after hearing positive things about Marine Harvest. Patti was initially hired as part of the clean-up crew. Seven years later, Patti’s a grader. “I’m never leaving, I love my job,” she says, adding that “this is the most fun I’ve ever had at work”.
By Gina Forsyth
Patti Fouquette is known as both “The Happy Girl” and “Pollyanna” by all her colleagues at the Port Hardy Processing Plant (PHPP) on northern Vancouver Island. Her ongoing positive attitude has become the foundation of a satisfying life. “I’m nothing but happiness and bubbles, all
Although Patti was born in Brampton, Ontario, her family was a mobile one. She’s lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Metro Vancouver, where she graduated from high school. When she was a child, Patti spent time in New Brunswick during the summer, staying with her grandparents, whom she remained close to following the death of her mother. “I have lots of great memories of those summers with my cousin and New
Brunswick Premier, David Alward,” says Patti. Patti and her husband Rick have lived on the North Island for 26 years and make their home in Coal Harbour, 15 minutes south of Port Hardy. The picturesque location of Coal Harbour gives them both the inspiration needed to create one of a kind pieces multi-media pieces focusing on the natural world. “It’s very much a team effort. Rick does the sculpture and firing in the kiln and I paint”. The couple works in clay, metal and wood. Their pieces have sold world-wide. “I have a piece of art on every continent except Antarctica,” said Patti. Check out Patti and Rick’s art through their Facebook page – The Good Earth Studio. It’s all the proof you’ll need that an optimistic outlook creates beauty.
Chef Dean! Dean Trethewey (Quatsino Production Manager) recently cooked up some delicious Marine Harvest Sterling salmon for the Vancouver Island Biathlon Club and received this nice thank you letter: Dear Dean, On behalf of Vancouver Island Biathlon Club I would like to express our appreciation for the donation of salmon from Marine Harvest and the delicious way you served it! It was amazing the way you showed up with your barbecue, set it up and cooked and served the salmon outside on the snow. The participants at the biathlon race and the volunteers all raved
about it. What a great way to finish our end of season biathlon race and in perfect sunny weather. MarineHarvestCanada.com
Many thanks! Pat Douglas, President, vibiathlon.ca 3
Brain Safe
By Blaine Tremblay, Health & Safety Advisor
It’s difficult to believe that a year has passed since we started rolling out the Brain Safe training program and began our trek to become safer as individuals in our “MyLife” and understanding more clearly why we would desire this. I am involved in managing every injury claim that happens within Marine Harvest Canada and still see plenty of opportunity
for a simple eyecheck process to be used prior to completing jobs and activities. This could be all that is required to prevent an unexpected trip to the hospital or medical clinic and more importantly ensure participation in the hobbies, interest and activities we enjoy doing in everyday life! I would like to invite, encourage and challenge all members of Marine Harvest Canada to really start using your eyecheck book and have it accessible with you every day before you begin work, every day before you start a new task, every day before you start something that is unfamiliar.
Remember, the brain loves habits and controls us within this thought process 99.7% of the time. Your family would want you to take a few minutes to ensure your health and safety is the top priority. Everyone should now have access to an eyecheck book. If you don’t, contact your manager or the H&S department for assistance to receive one. Sincerely, BlaineSafe
Supporting Cancer Research Marine Harvest is proud to support staff who do remarkable things in our communities. Recently, MHC supported Jakob Koomen in his “Ride 2 Survive” cycle to beat cancer (Canadian Cancer Society),
as well as Karin Davis for her ride to conquer cancer (BC Cancer Foundation). If you would like to pledge your support for Jakob and Karin, please visit their personal
pages. Jakob Koomen can be found at www. Ride2Survive.ca and Karin Davis can be found at www.ConquerCancer.ca.
Safety ‘InSites’ By Dan Pattison, Health and Safety Advisor
These are Canada’s top three most dangerous industries, based on statistics provided by AWCBC from 2008 to 2010: The Construction industry in Canada is the most deadly in terms of the number of fatalities. Construction has the highest number of deaths of any industry in Canada, accounting for 23.3 % (700) of all workplace fatalities.
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Following in a close second is the Manufacturing industry,
which accounts for 21.3 % (637) of all workplace fatalities. The sector is made up of businesses that are involved in the physical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products. •
(329) of all workplace fatalities in Canada, making it the third most dangerous Canadian industry. This sector includes businesses involved in transporting passengers, goods, warehousing, and providing services to establishments.
Transportation and Storage industry accounted for 11 %
MarineHarvestCanada.com
Answer: Zanzibar and the UK fought for 38 minutes in 1896 - the Brits won.
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A bit of business and a lot of pleasure! Marine Harvest Port Hardy Processing Plant (PHPP) employees with dates (from right to left: Mike Garlinski, Tina Gonsky, Tom Baker, Kathy Baker, Mike Strasdine, Kara Strasdine, Karin Tobin, Glen Tobin) attended the Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce Business Gala in April. It was a great evening of good food, good music and meeting people in the community. Marine Harvest was pleased to donate the salmon for the dinner. PHPP was honoured to be nominated for Best Non-retail Business of the Year.
Don’t forget to vote May 14th! It is your chance to be heard! Voting information can be found at http://www.elections.bc.ca/
New study a result of collaboration and common goal New research shows management of sea lice at BC salmon farms is meeting a precautionary approach to conserving wild salmon populations, say researchers.
are also important factors affecting the parasite’s natural abundance.
The study - a continuation of the sea lice research that Marine Harvest Canada and the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform began in 2006 includes researchers from conservation organizations, academia, aquaculture companies and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The study suggests that effective parasite management on BC salmon farms in the months prior to the outmigration of wild juvenile salmon can provide an effective and precautionary approach to conserving wild salmon populations. Marine Harvest Canada is pleased to see positives results continue to stem from its initial efforts to bring together researchers from academia, industry, conservation and government. Sharon Dedominicis, Marine Harvest’s Environmental Sustainability Manager, is a co-author in the study.
Seven years of shared data has shown that the timing of control of sea lice on farm-raised salmon effectively reduces the prevalence of the naturally occurring marine parasite on wild juvenile salmon in nearby areas. The study also confirms that temperature and salinity levels of the ocean
More information on this research and the Broughton Archipelago Monitoring Program can be found http://bamp.ca/ pages/publications.php. MarineHarvestCanada.com
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Lots of reasons to celebrate in Klemtu To celebrate a job well done this past processing season, Marine Harvest provided a lunch of KFC with all the fixings to the Klemtu processing plant employees. Mix in a few laughs and some cake and the day was a lot of fun. We hear that George Robinson eventually did share that bucket of chicken he had tightly secured under his arm.
Salmon barbeque is already cookin’!
The Marine Harvest charity barbeque received an overwhelming number of requests for charitable events this summer. So this year we are going to provide our volunteer services to 24 deserving charities – twice as many as last year! As before, we St Joseph’s Hospital Foundation / Y.A.N.A.
Done! Done!
30-Mar-13
Vanier Centre, Courtenay
28-Apr-13
Marine Park, Comox
Relay for Life, Canadian Cancer Society
25-May-13
PHSS, Port Hardy
CR Head Injury Support Society
29-May-13
Spirit Square, Campbell River
Rotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise
3-4pm 11am-5pm 6-8pm 4-6pm
Beaver Lodge Lands Trust Committee
1-Jun-13
North Island College, CR
Relay for Life, Canadian Cancer Society
8-Jun-13
Vanier School, Courtenay
Comox Valley Kennel Club
9-Jun-13
Pacific Playgrounds, Black Creek
5-7pm
Campbell River Twinning Society
15-Jun-13
Spirit Square, CR
12-2pm
Salvation Army, Lighthouse Project
15-Jun-13
Robert Ostler Park, CR
6-8pm
CR and North Island Transition Society
23-Jun-13
Nunns Creek Park, CR
4:30-7:30pm
Campbell River Dragon Boat Society
12-1:30pm
29-Jun-13
Dick Murphy Park, CR
BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund
1-Jul-13
Robert Ostler Park, CR
Campbell River Salmon Kings
6-Jul-13
Centennial Pool, CR
Vancouver Island Educational Alternatives Soc
14-Jul-13
Timberline School, CR
Campbell River Hospice Society
2-Aug-13
Baptist Church, CR
Port Hardy Rotary / Hospital Foundation
7-Aug-13
Storries Beach, Port Hardy
Kiwanis Club of Courtenay
11-Aug-13
Simms Park, Courtenay
Port McNeill Orca Fest / Harvest Food Bank
17-Aug-13
Port McNeill
Variety, the Children’s Charity
24-Aug-13
Tyee Chevrolet, CR
Volunteer Campbell River
7-Sep-13
Spirit Square, CR
Black Creek Community Association
13-Sep-13
Black Creek
Greenways Land Trust
21-Sep-13
Spirit Square, CR
Tour de Rock, Port Hardy
22-Sep-13
Recreation Centre, Port Hardy
Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club
28-Sep-13
Bill Moore Park, Courtenay
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will be selling delicious salmon burgers and 100% of the proceeds will go toward each charity. If you would like to volunteer at an event this summer, please contact Ian Roberts at ian.roberts@marineharvest. com.
MarineHarvestCanada.com
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