Seaspan donation gives trades students access to specialized materials

Camosun College

Camosun and Seaspan celebrate the major donation of materials and supplies for trades training.

Camosun has benefited from a long partnership with Seaspan and most recently received a significant donation of materials to be used to prepare students for work in pipe trades, welding, sheet metal and sheet metal fabrication.

"The future of shipbuilding is bright in B.C."

“Supporting the next generation of skilled trades people is an important investment for Seaspan,” says Mark Lamarre CEO of Seaspan Shipyards. “The future of shipbuilding is bright in B.C., and in order to remain competitive we must continue to attract more and diverse people to the trades and help them develop the skills and expertise they need to have successful careers.”

With increased demand for skilled tradespeople, these materials allow students to gain industry-specific skills to prepare them for careers in B.C.’s ship-repair and shipbuilding sector. These surplus supplies, including commercial-grade pipes, fittings, sheet metal and machinery give students the opportunity to train using materials on the same scale and quality used in Seaspan’s shipyards.

“Donations like these are how we’re able to prepare students to be confident in their knowledge when they begin their careers as skilled tradespeople,” says Darren Vaux, Department Chair of Pipe Trades at Camosun. “There are great employment opportunities for students and being able to work with the same supplies they will in the field is a hugely valuable advantage.”

The in-kind donation was the latest contribution from Seaspan in support of Camosun’s skilled trade programs. In 2021 the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation made a $444,000 funding commitment to provide new bursaries and scholarships for women and Indigenous learners in trades. The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is the major philanthropic organization for The Washington Companies and the Washington family, with funding coming from personal contributions from the Washington family and the annual contributions from The Washington Companies including Seaspan.

These latest contributions will complement another donation, a custom-designed training bulkhead, made by Seaspan in 2016. The six-tonne ship partition provides a safe environment for Camosun students to practice working in confined spaces and helps give graduates a competitive edge when entering the marine industry.

Established in 1971, Camosun is one of the largest colleges in British Columbia with campuses on the Traditional Territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. For over 50 years, Camosun has been delivering innovative, relevant and applied education, supporting communities, businesses and employers.