Annual awards bring together aquaculture friends

The aquaculture industry gathered in Campbell River on Saturday night to honour its own and celebrate the industry at the eleventh annual awards gala sponsored by Positive Aquaculture Awareness.

Aquaculture Business of the Year went to Walcan Seafood, the largest employer on Quadra Island. The other two finalists in this category were AKVA Group North America and Aztec Freight.

German Campos of Mainstream Canada, Grant McCreathe of Creative Salmon and Marine Harvest’s Ryan Gregoire were the finalists for the Leadership Award. The award, sponsored by JLH Consulting,  went to Ryan Gregoire.

Creative Salmon’s Morris Meikle was recognized as Outstanding Employee. Jean-Luc Williams from Grieg Seafood and Melissa St. Louis from Mainstream Canada were also in the running.

The Environmental Award is sponsored by the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences and was presented by Paula Galloway. She congratulated Skretting Canada on its win.

Outstanding Performance by an Area Manager is always a hotly contested category. This year’s nominees were Brock Thomson from Mainstream Canada, John Mills from Grieg Seafood, and Marine Harvest’s Kelly Osborne. The award went to Brock Thomson.

The Long Term Recognition Award is an opportunity to honour an individual who has contributed to the development of the aquaculture industry over an extended period. This year, Dave McKirgan from Aquametrix Research, was recognized. Dave began his career in the industry in 1994. Peter Gibson from Grieg Seafood and Scott Garside from Sea Roamer Marine Services rounded out the three finalists. Special mention was made of Peter’s upcoming retirement and his contributions to aquaculture since joining the industry in 1997.

The Rookie of the Year category recognizes an individual who has been in the aquaculture industry for less than five years. This year, Nick Schoenfelder from Marine Harvest, Ray Anderosov from Mainstream Canada, and Lauren Edgar, also from Marine Harvest, were the three finalists. Lauren Edgar came away with this award.

The top quality dinner was again provided by Rose’s Country Catering and featured both farmed salmon and black cod. The cod, donated by Sablefish Canada, was prepared with a maple syrup and sake glaze. It melted in your mouth.

The ever popular and entertaining Heads and Tails fundraiser was again a hit. Dustin from Sea Roamer Marine Services won first prize – $2,000 in travel from The Travel Place. Melissa St. Louis from Mainstream took second prize – $600 in travel, also donated by The Travel Place. Proceeds went towards the PAA donations to the Campbell River Salmon Foundation and the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences in conjunction with Quinsam Hatchery.

A variety of silent auction items were donated by industry, including pottery, clothing, tool kits, and gift certificates. It raised about $1,700.

Entertainment was again provided by Fish Farmer Overdrive, a band made up of industry members from a variety of companies including Grieg Seafood, Walcan Seafood, and Power Serve. This year’s members were Ian Roberts, Blair Billard, Clare Backman, Wayne Jacob, Tom Skillman, and Stefan Schendler.

Thanks to Cory Percevault, Leanne Brunt, and Ian Roberts for their huge volunteer efforts in putting together such an enjoyable evening.

Positive Aquaculture Awareness was created in 1998. Its mission is to promote positive awareness of the aquaculture industry through public education and community involvement.

Akva Group promotes from within

Come this May, Wade Kaskiw, current CFO of the Canadian operations for AKVA, will step up to position of General Manager, replacing current GM Patrick Dempster.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to build the AKVA Group as a leader in providing technology solutions which benefit the aquaculture industry.  We have a great team here in Canada and I have complete faith in our ability to service our customers.  It will be a big job filling Patrick Dempster’s shoes when he returns with his family to Chile later this year and he will be missed,” said Kaskiw.

Prior to joining AKVA in September 2007, Kaskiw was Controller with Marine Harvest Canada. Wade and his wife have lived in Campbell River for six and a half years.

AKVA group is the leading provider of technology to the global fish farming industry. Their products include software systems, operational equipment and sensor systems, feed systems, cage systems, net cleaning systems, light systems and recirculation aquaculture systems.

Reach Akva’s Canadian operations in Campbell River at 250-286-8802 or visit them on the web at www.akvagroup.com.