The Victoria Esquimalt Harbour Society is launching a new award and scholarship that will honour former longtime Victoria harbourmaster David Featherby and help support students in the marine trades at Camosun College.
The society is now fundraising to help establish the Featherby Award, which aims to hand out $650 annually to a student.
“This award will help to ensure the availability of people with the right skills to support local marine industries into the future,” said society president Hannah Horn.
“Camosun College is delighted to be in partnership on this important initiative. We recognize that the marine industries in our region are key and growing employers,” added Geoff WIlmhurst, vice-president of partnerships at Camosun College. “Camosun wants to be a leader in marine industrial training with the ability to provide job ready graduates to our marine industry partnerships.”
Featherby retired in 2015 after 30 years of managing Victoria’s harbour.
The society aims to raise about $15,000 to establish the bursary, and is doing so by straight donations (online at webpayments.camosun.ca/foundation/victoria-esquimalt-harbour-society-fund.com) and at a fundraising dinner Oct. 4.
The dinner, which will run 5:30-8:30 p.m. will be held at the Canadian Forces Sailing Association, 1001 Maplebank Rd. Tickets are $35 and can be bought by contacting Ryan Burles at rburles@cohoferry.com.
