Membership

MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES — CAPITAL DIVISION

To be a member of The Company of Master Mariners of Canada is to make a clear statement of your commitment to the furtherance of all aspects of your chosen profession. A copy of our Brochure is attached as a pdf file.

Occasionally prospective members ask a question about the role they will be encouraged to play as a member. The short answer is: the level of commitment for members is just what they personally believe they can handle.

We have an Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is held in late summer or early fall to manage the business of the Division and all members are encouraged to attend. Often we hold this AGM at the same time as a summer/fall social gathering.

Capital Division holds several Council meetings during the year to keep up with National and local issues. Only Council members may attend these meetings; however, from time to time some members are invited to attend and report if they are engaged in special projects or on an ad hoc working group.

The Divisional Council is always open to members who may wish to volunteer their services by accepting one of the executive positions. These positions are: Divisional Master, Deputy Master, Past Divisional Master, Treasurer, Secretary and three Councilor positions for a total of eight. There are as well openings on the National executive which are advertised from time to time.

There are usually opportunities to serve on special projects and/or ad hoc working groups such as our present Strategic Plan Development Group. These are also voluntary. There are more opportunities in the larger Divisions for members to involve themselves in maritime matters; however, our smaller Division located in the National Capital plays an important role in monitoring Federal Government and National Non-governmental maritime initiatives and concentrates on that function.

The Company has a national newsletter and members are encouraged to submit articles for publication.

Members are encouraged to write and publish papers on subjects that can contribute to the advancement of the maritime industry and to raise the profile of the Company. You may call on the combined expertise of our membership to peer review your papers for accuracy and topical interest before publication. Papers on your personal seagoing, maritime and war experiences are also welcome.

The Company's recent affiliation with the International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations (IFSMA) has broadened our scope as an advocate for the interests of Canadian Shipmasters.

Finally, the Capital Division hosts a Christmas social event and all members are encouraged to attend this event if at all possible.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

From time to time this space will be used to notify members, and interested persons, of career opportunities that come to our attention.

The Veterans Review and Appeal Board (Board) was created in 1995 by an Act of Parliament. The Board is an independent Board with full and exclusive jurisdiction to hear appeals from the decisions of the Minister of Veterans Affairs. The Board may affirm, vary or reverse the Minister's decisions, or refer decisions back to the Minister for reconsideration. The Board is completely independent from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In the future positions on the Board will be advertised in the Canada Gazette and on the Board's web site at http://www.vrab-tacra.gc.ca. Company members may be interested in applying for these positions when they become available -- the pay is fixed by Order in Council within the salary range $88,900 to $104,600, which has been in effect since April 1, 2004. Follow the link for more information on these positions.

Captain Peter Ady
1928 -- 2011

Captain Peter Ady representing the Company and the Merchant Navy at the National War Memorial 2001 Battle of the Atlantic Ceremony

Captain Peter John Ady, 82, passed away suddenly in Halifax on Saturday, March 26th, 2011. Born in Motherwell, Scotland on June 28th, 1928, the son of Clifford John Ady and Winifred Annie (Course), Peter was educated at boarding schools in the UK before attending the Thames Nautical Training College HMS Worcester.

In 1944 he joined the British Merchant Navy as an Apprentice Deck Officer where he served on merchant vessels in the famous convoys that sailed between the port of Halifax and the UK during the height of the Battle of the Atlantic, thus beginning his long association with Maritime Canada.

Just before the end of World War II Peter's ship was torpedoed and sunk and at the tender age of 16, he spent 24 hours adrift in a lifeboat in the North Atlantic before being rescued. In later years one of the proudest moments of Peter's life was the eventual recognition of the merchant seamen who had risked their lives during this time as World War II veterans.

After the war Peter met his wife Betty in Leeds, Yorkshire and they married in September 1949. Betty also had a naval connection as she had served in the WRENS during World War II. Peter spent much of the 1950s in Kenya and South Africa, two countries that were very dear to his heart for the rest of his life. During his African sojourn he sailed aboard vessels on Lake Victoria and for Safmarine (South African Marine Corporation), but his most colourful stories are from the time that he spent as an assistant game warden in Kenya. In 1964 Peter joined Black Star Line of Ghana and in 1965 travelled the West Coast of Africa from Senegal to the Cameroons with wife Betty and children Bridget and Laurence aboard the Merchant Vessel Oti River.

Peter emigrated to Canada with his family in 1966 and settled in Saint John, New Brunswick where he served in command of ships of the Kent Line. Peter "swallowed the anchor" in 1969 by working in several administrative positions in the shipping industry in Montreal. During this time he briefly took time out to return to sea to skipper a deep-sea tuna fishing boat off the coast of West Africa. He returned to Saint John in 1972 where he operated a small shipping company as President and General Manager before rejoining the Irving Group as Personnel Manager for the Kent Line.

In 1980 Peter joined the Federal Government Service in Ottawa as Chief Registrar of Ships until his retirement in 1996. In this position Peter proudly represented Canada at several United Nations conferences.

While in Ottawa Peter was active in the Company of Master Mariners of Canada and the Ottawa Welsh Society. He was also a keen and talented gardener. In 2001 Peter and Betty returned to the Maritimes and settled in Halifax where he continued to be active with the Company of Master Mariners and the Halifax Welsh Society and where he became a regular member of the St. Peter's Anglican Church congregation.

For the last three years of his life Peter was a selfless and devoted husband and caregiver to his wife Betty who, following a serious illness, has been a resident of the Drummond Hall nursing home in Halifax. Peter will always be fondly remembered by his friends and family for his unique charm and keen intelligence, which the years had not diminished.

He is survived by his wife Betty of Halifax, daughter Bridget Elizabeth (Richard) of Calgary, daughter Pero Jane (Ivo) of Sydney, Australia, sister Pauline Mary of Swanage, Dorset, UK, and grandsons Laurence Rhys of Halifax, Peter Evan of Saint John, New Brunswick, and Marcos and Nicholas of Sydney, Australia. Peter was predeceased by his son Laurence Donald in 1990.

Donations may be made to the Halifax Mission to Seafarers or a charity of your choice.

Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 3/31/2011

Captain John "Jack" C. Smith

1919 - 2011

Peacefully at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Tuesday December 27th, 2011 in his 92nd year. Beloved husband of Frances Loie (nee Richard). Loved father of Ruth (Clancy), Blaine, Gail (Greg), and Larry (Wendy). Grandfather of Angela (Kevin), Haley, and Emily Misato. Great grandfather of Mallory and Jake. Survived by sisters Freda Marsh and Ellen Melloy (Stan). Also lovingly remembered by many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service was held in the Chapel at Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Ave (at Richmond Rd.) on Saturday December 31st at 11:00am; followed by a reception. Donations in memory of Jack to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Salvation Army would be appreciated. [Ottawa Citizen]

Captain Jack Smith, Merchant Navy VIP, and Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden at the National War Memorial reviewing the march past of veterans on Sunday 1 May 2011 at the Battle of the Atlantic commemoration ceremony

The Capital Division of the Company of Master Mariners of Canada were grieved to hear that an old friend, “Captain Jack,” had crossed the bar.
Several of our members spent many years on the “MV Eskimo,” and numerous other ships, resupplying the Arctic DEW Line sites. Later, many of us worked with Jack in Transport Canada/Canadian Coast Guard.
During the last few years Jack diligently represented the Merchant Navy at Veteran’s memorial events. He also served several times as the Merchant Navy VIP at Battle of the Atlantic memorials.
Jack was always pleasant and had had a knack of getting things done.
Best of luck Jack on your final voyage — you will be missed.

Your friends in the Company of Master Mariners of Canada

[Follow the link for more:www.mastermariners.ca/capital/current-events.php#boa2011 ]