Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announces $1.1M Ocean Allies 2.0 Project 

The project’s second phase takes Ocean Allies coast-to-coast-to-coast
 

Today, alongside project partners, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced the $1.1 million Ocean Allies 2.0 Project. This project builds on the successful pilot to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in the ocean ecosystem. Ocean Allies 2.0 expands the pilot program’s scope beyond the Atlantic provinces to become a national program, with partners and key organizations from coast-to-coast-to-coast. 

Through targeted measures and events to support mentorship, training, awareness building the Ocean Allies team works to reduce systemic barriers, attract talent and build a more inclusive ocean economy. This phase of the projects will focus on increasing Indigenous partnerships with a particular focus on Inuit Nunangat. 

With a total project value of over $1.1 million, the OSC will provide $750 thousand in funding with the balance coming from project partners. In Ocean Allies 2.0, Pisces Research Project Management, Huntsman Marine Science Centre, and Perennia have expanded their roster of partners with the following organizations to increase business linkages between ocean companies and diverse talent pools, fostering new entrants into the ocean economy:   

• AbilityNB 
• BioNB 
• Canadian Commission for UNESCO 
• Canada’s Ocean Supercluster  
• Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC) 
• Center for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) 
• EnPoint 
• Irving Shipbuilding (ISI) 
• Labour, Skills, and Immigration Nova Scotia  
• MarineLabs 
• Mitacs 
• Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) 
• Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) 
• National Research Council of Canada (NRC) 
• Ocean Advance 
• Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) 
• Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) 
• Ocean Technology Council of Nova Scotia (OTCNS) 
• PEI Business Women’s Association 
• Shumba Consulting 
• Synapse 
• Upswing Solutions 

Ocean Allies has become a leading driver advancing diversity and inclusion in Canada’s ocean technology sector. The project team will leverage existing resources and infrastructure in the ocean technology ecosystem to establish meaningful communication channels with diverse organizations throughout Canada. The project will also seek to generate increased employment opportunities including, underemployed or unemployed workers in the ocean technology ecosystem. In doing so, it will provide long-term solutions for reducing barriers to underrepresented groups and realizes the overall objective of building capacity for innovation in the ocean sector. 

 

To learn more about Ocean Allies and their resources, visit www.oceanallies.ca. 

---

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. To date, the OSC has approved more than 70 projects with a total value of more than $360 million which will deliver more than 120 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. Learn more about Canada’s Ocean Supercluster here. For more information visit www.oceansupercluster.ca

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Quotes:
“With support from Canada’s Ocean Cluster, Ocean Allies is planning on taking its success from coast to coast to coast. After already strengthening infrastructure, capabilities and commercially relevant solutions, the focus will be on developing our talent to support an equitable, diverse and inclusive ocean economy.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“We are proud of the work being done through the Ocean Allies Project and excited to announce its next phase to support greater diversity, equity and inclusion across ocean sectors throughout Canada. Removing barriers, building capabilities and connections, and providing resources will not only help address the growing need for ocean talent, but help Canada realize our full potential for sustainable ocean innovation.” – Melody Pardoe, Chief Engagement Officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“As a founding partner to the Ocean Allies project, we recognize many of the challenges that exist in Canada’s ocean sector and the need to better support diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion. Our team at Pisces RPM is committed to collaborating with our partners to support and provide meaningful opportunities to our ocean community, and taking concrete steps towards building a more richly diverse and inclusive ecosystem.” – Kes Morton, CEO, Pisces RPM

“It is through consistent action, collective impact and collaboration that we will be able to increase the full participation of all people in Canada’s ocean technology sector. Ocean Allies has proven to be a great champion of this and the kind of organization that EnPoint can stand behind. We look forward to contributing our experience helping organizations make mentorship matter to this project.” – Chantal Brine, CEO, Endpoint

“The Shumba team is excited to continue to be part of the Ocean Allies’ journey in the next phase of this important work. Building on the Navigating Change foundations established in the pilot phase we look forward to collectively and intentionally working together toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive ocean sector.” – Tinaye Manyimo, CEO, Shumba Consulting

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is pleased to welcome Kim Greenslade, Suvro Burman, and Cassidy Walker to the organization.

Kim joins the team as Project Finance Manager, where she will provide financial support to the OSC’s submitted projects and proposals. Kim brings vast finance experience to the OSC after having previously worked in research and commercialization, as well as many years in Newfoundland’s energy sector.

Suvraprateem (Suvro) joins the team as Project Finance Analyst, where he will support the OSC’s project claim management process. Suvro is a certified project management professional having worked with a diverse group of industry clients across multiple locations in business consulting, finance, accounting process delivery, and continuous improvement projects.

Cassidy joins the team as Member Analyst, where she will work with the OSC’s engagement team on member relations. Cassidy brings a unique perspective to the team with a background in environmental studies and marine management as well as experience in fundraising and administration.

Welcome to our new OSC team members!