The Board of Directors of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) has approved the nomination for its Medal of Merit award. This year’s recipient is Blair McKeil, a widely respected maritime businessman who has been at the helm of Hamilton-based McKeil Marine Limited for the past 30 years. McKeil Marine has been operating successfully for over 55 years and is widely considered to be an exemplary Canadian success story. The family-owned business operating throughout the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Arctic, has demonstrated the ability to adapt quickly to the changing times in both global and regional trends in trade and transportation. The key architect of this metamorphosis has been company Chairman & CEO Blair McKeil, whose entrepreneurial vision is driven by unbridled enthusiasm and boundless energy.
The award will be presented at the upcoming ACPA’s Annual General Meeting and Conference in Hamilton, August 19-22, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel. The Medal of Merit will be presented at the luncheon on Wednesday, August 22, 2012. The Medal of Merit is, ” awarded in recognition of outstanding works or service, preferably of national impact, by an individual, institution or organization in the port, shipping and maritime transportation fields.” Mr. McKeil exemplifies the importance of local commitment and involvement in the maritime business and giving back to the community in which he lives. “Mr. McKeil has a proven track record in leadership in the maritime world and an abiding commitment to customer service and his community,” said Robin Silvester, President and CEO of Port Metro Vancouver and this year ‘s Chair of the Association.
The Association has awarded the Medal of Merit annually since 1975. Past recipients have included Madeleine Paquin , President and CEO of Logistec Corporation; the Hon. David Collenette, former Minister of Transport; Michel Pouliot, President of the Canadian Marine Pilots Association; and Jack Leitch, Chair of the Upper Lakes Group.