Last year Southwestern Sales utilized McKeil Marine’s new tug/barge unit Huron Spirit in our aggregate trade. It now allows Southwestern to provide full access to a wider variety of self unloading vessels for our customers and gives us the ability to service any full or partial draft port in our market area. We look forward to working with the folks at McKeil in the coming years.
Over the many years we have worked together, McKeil Marine has always provided individual customer service with a team approach to problem solving, while still maintaining the sense of family that is at the core of their business.
Meet Terry Brown, 2nd Engineer with McKeil Marine since 2000. Terry’s responsibilities include overseeing engine room systems, generators and other technology.
Terry notes the support for family and his fellow crew members as being an important part of daily life aboard.
Meet Marvin Cooper, Captain with McKeil Marine since 1999. Marvin’s responsibilities include overseeing all operations of the tug and barge, leading crew, safe navigation and communication with the shore-based support crew.
What stands out to Marvin are the people and feeling like an important part of the company and the McKeil family.
McKeil Marine proudly supports Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and shares a vision for safe, clean water for everyone. Each year the Waterkeeper Gala brings together leaders from the worlds of art, business, sport, entertainment, industry and social enterprise to collectively advance Lake Ontario clean water initiatives. In 2014, McKeil was again a proud sponsor and company Chairman and CEO Blair McKeil launched a new video series “What is your connection to water?”
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is a registered Canadian charity, helping to create a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future by connecting and empowering people in order to stop pollution, protect human health, and restore habitat.
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/blog/2014/5/21/what-is-your-connection-to-water-featuring-blair-mckeil
2nd Engineer Jamie Jenkins rode in the Motorcycle for Sight in Newfoundland last month, helping to raise awareness and funds for families facing retinal disease. Ride for Sight is the longest running motorcycle charity fundraiser in Canada; to-date raising more than $20 million. Pledges are directed to The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the only charity in Canada funding sight-saving research and supporting affected families. “It's a great feeling being able to help with this and enjoy a great ride and fellowship with other riders”, said Jamie. “I would like to see my donations go to anyone with any eye problem but would love for it to help someone’s little child who has a problem with there eyes.” Jamie raised over $500 in pledges and McKeil Marine was proud to sponsor his effort.
McKeil Marine supported six-time Olympic medalist, Clara Hughes for the Torngat Mountains youth expedition. Supporting at risk teens from northern communities, four youth from Nunatsiavut and Kangiqsualujjuaq ages 16-25 participated. Focusing on team work, motivation and discovering strengths, the expedition helped provide guidance and essential life skills.
McKeil often relies on the Northern community of Nain for vessel provisioning and refueling. Our contribution aligns with the focus on supporting communities where our crew lives and work. Read more about the experience in the latest blog entry on Clara's website. http://clara-hughes.com/place-of-the-spirits-the-torngat-mountains/
Featured in the September 15, 2014 issue of Canadian Sailings, Vale's construction of the Long Harbour Nickel Processing Plant was supported by McKeil Marine over the course of 14 months in 2011 and 2012. with This work highlighted our ability to manage complex logistics schedules and provide efficient and reliable marine transportation to the site. At the peak of the project, McKeil had 9 tug and barge units transporting modules and equipment. Read more about the project here.
Meet Allan Saulnier, 2nd Mate with McKeil Marine since 2011. Allan’s responsibilities include passage plans, chart corrections and serving as safety officer.
Immediately being welcomed as a member of the crew upon joining McKeil stands out to Allan, and knowing you have the support you need to safely do your job.
Chairman and CEO Blair McKeil was featured in the Q3 issue of BIZ Magazine. Read his perspective on entrepreneurship and company culture. "How we communicate with each other and the focus on our people - the respect for one another - is the foundation that drives our business." Read Blair's full interview here .
McKeil cook Emmanuel Patey offered his time this winter to the Port Aux Basques Lions Club for their annual fundraising event for the community. Devoting four days to preparation and setup, Emmanuel led the team that provided food for more than 320 attendees. Funds raised will support disabled youth support programs and travel costs for out of town hospital visits. Emmanuel created elaborate fruit carvings, hors d’oeuvres and dips. This commitment to community and helping others is part of the culture of caring and sharing that is fostered every day.
In partnership with McKeil Marine, the Army Cadets from 2515 St John’s, NL participated in cleaning up along Piers 6-8, Piers 19-21 as well as Harbour Drive as part of Earth Day. The Canadian Cadet Program is open to youth between the ages of 12 and 18, with the goal of developing attributes of good citizenship and leadership among youth. The harbour clean up supported this through active community engagement. As army cadets, much of the training and development takes place outdoors in wilderness, settings and cadets have developed an appreciation for our environment and keeping it pristine for everyone to enjoy. "On behalf of the cadets and staff of 2515 St. John’s Army, I would like to thank McKeil Marine for giving us the opportunity to give back to our local community. As army cadets, we spend time canoeing in lakes around the St. John’s area, and appreciate fresh, clean drinking water when mountain biking and trekking on the East Coast Trail," said their training officer and Captain, Katelyn Smith. Katelyn is a member of the shore-based crew in the McKeil St. John’s office.
McKeil Marine presented a cheque to The Janeway Children's Hospital Foundation while in St. John's, Newfoundland for the annual McKeil Crew Meeting. The pledge represents an additional year of support in what has become an important community relationship for the company. The Janeway Hospital provides vital care for youth in the province of Newfoundland. McKeil's relationship with the Janeway has grown each year since 2010.
A 25th anniversary milestone was acknowledged at Windsor Marine Night as McKeil Marine presented the Detroit Windsor Truck Ferry service with a commemorative gift. Truck Ferry owner Gregg Ward thanked McKeil, along with the Ports of Windsor and Detroit and the many customers who utilize the service today and over the course of the last 25 years. The ferry is a vital link for trucks not permitted to cross the border via the Ambassador Bridge due to cargo restrictions.
The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) joins governments, policymakers, industry and the general public in celebrating the nation’s merchant marine industry on May 22, urging reforms to ensure greater industrial competitiveness, jobs and prosperity.
The McKeil Mariners shore-based crew completed a very successful fundraising effort for St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation at the Around the Bay Race in Hamilton on March 29. Our team raised a total of $6579. Congratulations to all runners and walkers, and to family, friends and crew who supported the team with pledges.
An iconic Toronto restaurant made its final resting place in Port Colborne with the help of McKeil Marine. The Hamilton company led the former Captain John’s Restaurant out of its home in the harbour in Toronto, across Lake Ontario and through the Welland Canal. The vessel will be scrapped at Marine Recycling Corp. Read the full story in the Hamilton Spectator http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5650730-captain-john-s-makes-final-journey/ .
McKeil Marine continued the commitment to The Janeway Children's Hospital Foundation and participated in the annual Janeway Telethon with a $10,000 cheque presentation. "Thank you both for coming and to your volunteers for helping man our phones. We truly appreciate the continued support we receive from McKeil, from you and from all your colleagues."
Jenine Kerrivan
Manager, Corporate Development
Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation
McKeil Marine is pleased to have forged a valuable partnership with Ontario Sailing (OS), the sport governing body for recreational boating in Ontario. McKeil is supporting a number of key areas of the OS core program development. These include the sponsorship of the Access Boom Program, which offers training to disabled adults and youth. In addition, the company is supporting the Instructor and Coach Training programs, which has enrollment of up to 400 individuals being trained by OS Learning Facilitator Staff. Another key area of support is in health and safety, by supplying all OS instructors and coaches with a Hazard Observation Card. OS recognizes the tremendous benefit they obtain from McKeil's knowledge and expertise in working safely on the water.
McKeil Marine, Nadro Marine and Heddle Marine Service to support the closing of the Pan Am Games in Hamilton with a fireworks display staged on a barge in Hamilton Harbour. The Pan Am Games included 32 soccer matches played in Hamilton as well as a cultural festival over the final weekend of the Games. McKeil Marine worked with the Hamilton Port Authority, Hamilton Police Services, Supercrawl Productions and the City of Hamilton Pan Am Games Committee to present the show. The Hamilton Spectator provided coverage of the fireworks display, read more in the story published here http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5750642-pan-am-fireworks-sunday-night-will-be-a-blast-from-the-past/ .
