Fisheries Training for Gwabalis Fisheries Members - Congratulations & Acknowledgements

April 10, 2012

We would like to congratulate the students of the Gwabalis Membership of The Da’naxda’xw, Gwa’sala
'Nakwaxda’xw, Mamalilikula, Quatsino, and Tlatlasikwala First Nations for a job well done on becoming
certified in the following courses, that had been funded by PICFI 

Zachary Brotchie, Wade Charlie, Charlotte Dubitski, Kathleen Dubitski, Valena George, Allen Speck,
Tanya Speck, Arthur Nelson Jr., Damien Walkus, J.C. Hunt, Tom Wallace Jr., Terra Taylor, Nataleen
Clayton, Patricia Walkus, Terrisa Walkus, Wallace Walkus, Johnson Bell, John King Jr., Leslie Taylor-
Child , Vanessa Wilson, Spruce Rufus , Peter Mountain, Sandy Speck, Randy Barton, Patrick Charlie Jr.

One of the main focuses during this initiative was that it had to be practical in content while maintaining
essential performance to ensure that it could be accredited, so the students could attain recognised
certification from Transport Canada.

MED 031 A1: Marine Emergency Duties 031 A1 (19 received certification)
William H Walkus, Wallace Jackson, Ken Walkus, Russell Walkus, Allen Speck, Spruce Rufus James Speck
Jr., Peter Mountain, Reginald Seaweed, Jim Paul, Patrick Charlie Jr., Leonard Nelson Louie Walkus,
Jackson Walkus, Douglas Johnny Jr., Wade Charlie, Terra Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Ron Botel

Marine Basic First Aid: (17 received certification) 
FAC 082 Douglas Johnny Jr., Dennis Charlie, William
H Walkus, Joseph Taylor, Allen Speck, Leonard Nelson Dan MacKay, Wilfred Nelson, Chris France, Terra
Taylor, James Speck Jr., Bobby King Jr., Shane King, Graem Hall, Lucy Nelson, Benjamin Campbell, Ron
Botel

SVOP: Small Vessel Operator Proficiency Certification (23 received certification)
William H Walkus, Douglas Johnny Jr., Thomas Henderson Jr., Howard Smith, Peter Mountain, Spruce
Rufus, Allen Speck, Joseph Taylor, David Wallace, Leonard Nelson, Dan MacKay, Patrick Charlie Jr. Louie
Walkus, Ken Walkus, Jackson Walkus, Dennis Charlie, Johnson Bell, Ricky Coon, Arthur Nelson Jr. Jim
Paul, Percy Nelson Jr., Thomas Wamiss Jr., Patrick Charlie Sr.

ROC-M: 21 Restricted Operator Course-M Certification (21 received certification)
Howard Smith, William H Walkus, Douglas Johnny Jr., Chris France, Allen Speck, Patrick Charlie Jr.,
Daniel MacKay, Leonard Nelson, Reginald Seaweed, Joseph Taylor, David Wallace Johnson Bell,
Kenneth Walkus, David Houghton, Spruce Rufus, Peter Mountain, James Speck Jr., Percy Nelson Jr.,
Patrick Charlie Jr., Terra Taylor, Ron Botel

Mentor Program: Trainees attended
Dan MacKay, Douglas Johnny, Howard Smith, Joseph Taylor, John Macko, Ron Botel

At Sea Mentoring: Trainees
Allan Speck, James Speck Jr., Peter Mountain, Spruce Rufus, Ryan Nelson, J.C. Hunt

Special acknowledgements: To the following individuals and organizations for their direct support
conducting the training courses.
  • PICFI: Allan Tobey (Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/picfi-ipcip)
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capacity building lead (PICFI): Chandra Howlett
  • DFO: Kent Spencer, Tyler Collie, Johnathan Joe www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
  • North Island College: Claire Marchand, Tracy, Barb, Todd Graham www.nic.bc.ca/
  • Ocean View Driving School: Gabby Wickstrom (250) 956-4864
  • Fish Safe: Barb Howe, Dionne Riley http://www.fishsafebc.com/
  • Gwabalis Technical Team: Dave Schmidt RP Bio Fisheries Manager, Doug McCorquodale, James Speck, Nicole McLelland, Odd Grydeland
  • Port Hardy RCMP Detachment: Cst. Robert Morozoff, Cst. Fletcher Chisholm for authenticating the students' documentation www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/
  • Canadian Fish: We contacted Les Story 
  • Keltic Sea Foods Micky Brown www.kelticseafoods.com
  • Quatsino First Nation: Helen Charlie www.quatsinofn.com/
  • Book Keeping: Nancy Goffic
  • Canadian Transportation office: Barb Howe www.otc-cta.gc.ca
Florence Van Graven
Coordinator
Gwabalis Commercial Fisheries ENT.