March 9, 2026 – North Vancouver, BC — The BC Maritime Â鶹 (BCMEA), on behalf of its member companies, is proud to announce a three year partnership with the District of North Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society (DNV Fire Charity) that will see the BCMEA serve as the Presenting Partner of the annual Barn Burner fundraising concert. 

Hosted each year at the Maplewood Fire and Rescue Centre in North Vancouver, B.C., the Barn Burner delivers an unforgettable evening of live music and charitable giving. This high-energy concert brings together community members, sponsors, and legendary musicians in support of critical local initiatives focused on kids’ education, youth mental health and community resilience.  

Proceeds for this year’s event will support  a˛Ô»ĺ , helping to expand access to youth mental health resources, education, and counselling programs. Funds will also be used to support high school scholarships, help Sherwood Park Elementary School’s PAC rebuild its playground, and contribute to the DNV Firefighters Emergency Relief Fund, which assists vulnerable community members in times of crisis.   

To date, the Barn Burner event has raised more than $360,000 in support of youth mental health, education and community resilience initiatives â€” a testament to the dedication of the DNV Fire Charity and the generosity of the North Shore waterfront and its community partners.  

“This partnership reflects our enduring commitment to strengthen the communities where our members and the workforce operate,” said Mike Leonard, BCMEA President and CEO, â€śOn the North Shore, BCMEA member companies are deeply rooted in the community, and investing in youth mental health and resilience reflects our shared responsibility to support the long term well-being of the region.” 

“We are thrilled to welcome the BCMEA as our Presenting Partner of our annual Barn Burner for the next three years,” said Kyle Burdett, Executive Director, DNV Fire Charity. “Their investment and leadership will help us continue to grow the Barn Burner and expand our charitable impact on the North Shore and beyond.” 

The BCMEA is proud to support this event alongside member companies Neptune Terminals, Global Container Terminals, Pembina â€“ Vancouver Wharves, and SSA Marine, further demonstrating the maritime industry’s shared commitment to strengthening local communities.  

This partnership also underscores the industry’s focus on safety across the North Shore waterfront. The BCMEA and its members work closely with local fire departments to enhance emergency preparedness, support coordinated response and ensure safe, reliable operations â€“ helping to protect the workforce, waterfront terminals and the surrounding community.  

The 2026 Barn Burner will take place on June 5, 2026, at the Maplewood Fire and Rescue Centre. Tickets will go on sale on April 2, 2026.  

For more information about the Barn Burner, sponsorship opportunities, or ticket sales, please visit .  

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Skilled trades professionals play an important role on B.C.’s waterfront. Whether working at container terminals, breakbulk facilities, or bulk cargo operations, trades workers skills and expertise ensure the efficient movement of critical cargo by keeping equipment maintained, reliable, and operating safely. This enables BCMEA members and the longshore workforce to unload and load ships with the goods that Â鶹—and global markets—rely on every day. As trade volumes grow and infrastructure evolves, the demand for highly skilled waterfront tradespeople continues to increase. 

We were proud to recently participate in two major trades-focused career fairs, highlighting the exciting and diverse opportunities available on the BC Waterfront.  

We joined industry partners at the BCIT Industrial Campus on Annacis Island, connecting with students exploring pathways into trades and industrial careers. Alongside the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and our member employer GCT, we engaged with future trades professionals, answering questions about longshore work, terminal operations, and the trades training pathways that support a strong maritime workforce. 

The event offered students an up-close look at the skills and the teamwork that drive operations on B.C.’s waterfront, helping the young students understand how their technical training can translate into impactful, well-paying trades careers.  
 
The collaboration of the BCMEA and ILWU standing side-by-side ensured students heard directly from both an employer and worker perspective—an approach that resonated strongly with those exploring early-career decisions. 
 
The BCMEA also attended the Trades & Technology Career Fair at the University of the Fraser Valley in Chilliwack. The fair brought together students, graduates, and instructors from a wide range of technical programs, creating meaningful opportunities for conversation about waterfront careers. 

Participants were eager to learn about the future skilled- trade roles across B.C.’s ports. From electricians to heavy-duty to mechanics, these careers contribute to the movement of goods essential to communities and the Canadian economy. 

The BCMEA investing in career fairs reflects our ongoing commitment to raising awareness of the rewarding pathways available in waterfront trades. Engaging directly with post-secondary students allows us to support workforce development, strengthen industry partnerships, and encourage the next generation to consider a future in maritime skilled trades.  

We’re looking forward to meeting more future trades professionals at campuses this year.  

Click HERE to learn more about building a career in trades on the waterfront.  

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(Vancouver) – The BC Maritime Â鶹 (BCMEA) and the BC Lions are proud to announce a renewal of their partnership for the Be More Than a Bystander program. Since its inception in 2011, the program continues to grow and evolve, expanding its reach from classrooms to communities and workplaces across British Columbia.

A powerful collaboration between the BC Lions and the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC), Be More Than a Bystander equips youth and adults with the tools and confidence to speak up against gender-based violence, harassment, and bullying. Going on for 15 productive years, this program has reached thousands of students through hundreds of school visits, creating meaningful conversations around leadership and respect.

Since joining as the program’s corporate partner in 2022, BCMEA has played a pivotal role in expanding Be More Than a Bystander into the workplace, helping train nearly 10,000 waterfront workers in one of the most comprehensive workplace violence and harassment prevention efforts ever undertaken in Canada’s federal sector.

“This program works because it’s about action,” said BCMEA president and CEO Mike Leonard.

“Whether it’s a classroom, on the waterfront, or online, we all have a role to play in ending bullying, harassment, and gender-based violence. Our continued partnership with the BC Lions reflects our shared commitment to building safer, more respectful workplaces and communities.”

This year, Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke served as the program’s main ambassador, teaming up with several of his teammates to visit 25 schools and thousands of students across the province. Together, they helped deliver the message that leadership means more than just performance on the field—it means standing up for others and helping create safe, inclusive spaces for everyone.

 â€śIt’s incredible to see how far this program has come,” said Lions’ director of community partnerships Jamie Taras.

“Fifteen years ago, we set out to create real change by giving youth the confidence to speak up. With partners like BCMEA, this message has grown far beyond the field, reaching workplaces and communities across the province.”

With strong support from employers, unions, and civic leaders, Be More Than a Bystander continues to inspire true leadership and positive peer influence in all areas of life.

“With the support of strong partners like BCMEA, this program continues to evolve and deepen its impact,” said EVA BC executive director Ninu Kang.

 â€śFrom students to Â鶹, we’re seeing people across BC step up and become part of the solution.”

About the BC Maritime Â鶹

The BCMEA represents 48 maritime employers, from terminal operators to ocean carriers and ship agents, and is responsible for the training, safety, recruitment, dispatch, and administration of wages and benefits of 9,400 waterfront workers. Canada’s West Coast ports are responsible for the safe and efficient movement of approximately $800 million worth of cargo per day, totalling 25 percent of Canada’s total traded goods.  

About the Ending Violence Association of BC

The Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) works to coordinate and support the efforts of victim-serving and anti-violence programs throughout British Columbia. EVA BC collaborates with communities, service providers, and institutions to improve prevention and response systems that support individuals affected by gender-based violence, harassment, and hate.

About Be More Than a Bystander

Created in 2011 by the BC Lions and EVA BC, Be More Than a Bystander is a province-wide initiative that aims to break the silence surrounding gender-based violence by educating youth and adults alike on how to safely speak up and take action. The program includes in-person and virtual school presentations, workplace training, public appearances, and multimedia awareness campaigns.

In 2025, the program is proudly presented in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, the BC Maritime Â鶹, with additional support from the BC Federation of Labour and Teck Â鶹.  

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