S.S. Beaver Medals

The Beaver Medal is an award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the marine sector.

The Maritime Museum encourages nominations annually for contributions to British Columbia’s marine environment, which include but are not limited to: science, technology, business, applications of maritime skills, nautical heritage and culture, and academic contributions.

This year marks the seventh annual presentation of the award. The 2018 recipients of the SS Beaver Medal for Maritime Excellence are:

Mr. Robin Inglis, resident of South Surrey, former museum and archives curator, internationally recognized as an authority on the maritime history of the northwest coast. Robin Inglis first began working in the Canadian museum field 47 years ago. He established a reputation for willingness to share his vast knowledge with individuals and institutions. His contributions to scholarship include authoring standard books of reference and articles. Robin Inglis continues his work with the Moachat and Muchalat to obtain World Heritage States for Yuquot, Nootka Island.

Mr. Donald Krusel, resident of Saanich, harbor management executive. Don Krusel joined the Port of Prince Rupert in 1987and became President and Chief Executive Officer in 1992. He successfully led the efforts that transformed an underused resource-export port to a thriving and expanding container terminal and diversifying trade gateway. Under his leadership the Port Authority fostered the involvement of First Nations communities in port-related activities. Since retiring from Prince Rupert Don Krusel has recently been named managing director of a project to build a container terminal for the Port of Quebec.

Mr. John MacFarlane, resident of Qualicum Beach, Curator Emeritus of MMBC, compiler and disseminator of lore about BC maritime heritage. He is the creator and co-director since 2011 of NAUTICAPEDIA, a unique on-line resource with more than 50,000 entries about the mariners and vessels of western Canada and the Arctic. More recently he created the BC Nautical History Facebook page. John MacFarlane is the author of 14 books including a guide in four volumes about the 5,500 oldest vessels still afloat in BC and many articles.

Ms. Jane McIvor, resident of Vancouver, communications executive, and publisher and editor of BC Shipping News. This is a well-respected magazine founded by Jane McIvor in 2011 that covers the west coast marine industry. It tracks a wide span of issues including business, technological and economic trends, current developments, and regulatory and legal issues. Jane McIvor is passionate about promoting BC’s marine industry and has established a reputation among its members for her knowledge, insight and sense of the industry’s pulse.

This year’s special award is to the Wahl Family of North Coast Boatbuilders, represented by Mr. Edward Wahl, resident of Langley. Three generations of the Wahl family have been involved in building wooden and glass fibre work boats and some recreational vessels on the BC coast boat. Their distinctly styled wooden fishing vessels made a significant contribution to our Province’s fishing and boat building industries. Mr. Edward Wahl is a shipwright and the grandson of the Norwegian immigrant who began building fish boats outside Prince Rupert in 1923.