Archie Dickson, a former director of Georgian’s Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre (GLIMTC), recently received Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Canadian marine safety.

The award was presented at a ceremony held in Ottawa at the biannual meeting of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council.

Before retiring from Georgian in 2009, Archie advocated for the development of high-quality training for seafarers through GLIMTC at the College’s Owen Sound Campus, where he consistently provided students with the best possible tools for their careers.

In response to the challenges of changing technology, Archie led an ambitious and unprecedented move to state-of-the-art marine simulator training.

As a result, the College now has the most technologically advanced marine simulator training centre in North America. Graduates are equipped to meet the demand for seafarers with the highest qualifications, which contributes to the safety of marine operations in the Great Lakes shipping industry, and beyond.

The Centre also provides training to professional seafarers.

The Canadian Marine Advisory Council, Transport Canada’s national consultative body, represents individuals and parties with a recognized interest in boating and shipping concerning safety, navigation, recreational matters, marine pollution and response, and marine security.

The Transport Canada Marine Safety Award was established in 1997 to promote awareness of marine safety in Canada and to recognize people, groups, companies, organizations, agencies or departments that have contributed to this objective an exceptional way.

PHOTO: Donald Roussel, Director General, Transport Canada Marine Safety (r), presents Archie Dickson, former Director, Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre, with Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Award.