In a Government House ceremony on October 21, the Hon. Lt. Gov. Wendy Cocchia presented
each recipient of the 2025 Lieutenant Governor Award for Maritime Achievement with the unique medallion created by Heiltsuk Nation’s Nusi Ian Reid.
Left to right: Capt. Clay Evans, Dr. Kelsie Murchy, Bonnie Gee, Hon. Sergio Cocchia, Hon. Wendy Cocchia, Joe Martin and Bill Riggs. Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia said afterword, “One of our most important roles (as Lieutenant Governor) is to amplify the work of British Columbians, and the maritime achievement recipients certainly make our job easy.”THESE ARE THE 2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS:
Kenneth Butler is the leading authority on the restoration of BC’s heritage vessels and maritime sites. His work has focused on the 1898 sternwheeler SS Moyie, the world’s oldest intact passenger sternwheeler displayed at a National Historic Site in Kaslo, BC. A master craftsman, he’s shown great respect for the skills of the designers, shipbuilders, master builders, painters and others who built and maintained British Columbia’s early interior steamers. Now in his 80s, Ken continues to advise on major restoration heritage projects such as heritage vessels SS Sicamous, Kuskanook and Nasookin. Ken was unable to attend.
Bonnie Gee wears several hats as president of the Chamber of Shipping, as the organizer for the International Sailors Society Canada and as an advocate for improving marine transportation and seafarer welfare. Her work ensures that the many shipping companies, agencies and members are ably represented by the Chamber. During COVID, Bonnie was the driving force to get visiting seafarers vaccinated by BC Health; when the program ended it had vaccinated over 2,000 seafarers.
Captain Clay Evans is a West Coast mariner who spent over 35 years with the Canadian Coast Guard, many at the Bamfield Station where he developed the Maritime Search and Rescue School. He’s a historian and author specializing in the history of lifesaving at sea, and he’s a trustee of the London-based International Maritime Rescue Federation where he advises on mass rescue operations. Clay also serves on the board of the Maritime Museum of BC.
UVic professor Dr. Francis Juanes is dedicated to conducting fundamental and innovative research in fisheries ecology. His groundbreaking research on fish soundscape ecology and the ecology of juvenile salmonids have advanced our understanding of the acoustic environment and migration patterns of key marine species. His work is now globally used to describe ecosystem effects of fishing. Dr. Juanes was represented by colleague Dr. Kelsie Murchy.
Joe Martin is a Tofino-based, Tlao-qui-aht First Nation carver and teacher, known for the beauty of his chaputs (dugout canoes) and totem poles and for teaching the next generation Nuu-chah-nulth cultural practices and skills.
Royal Canadian Search & Rescue (RCMSAR) is a volunteer, non-profit charity dedicated to saving lives on the water. RCMSAR operates 31 rescue stations along BC’s coast and in the Shuswap with more than 950 professionally trained volunteers who respond to 450 distress calls each year bringing hundreds of people home safely. Bill Riggs accepted the Award.