Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits Deep Bay Field Station

Under brilliant sunshine and bathed in warm ocean breezes, Wednesday September 8, 2010 will long be remembered by the staff of the Centre for Shellfish Research (CSR) and Vancouver Island University as Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a surprise visit to the Deep Bay Field Station.

A six-car cavalcade of black SUV’s and limousines, impressive security detail and RCMP officers marked his arrival. Dr. Ralph Nilson, VIU President and Vice Chancellor, and Mike Brown, VIU Board Chair, were on hand to greet the Prime Minister along with The Honourable James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni, Don Tillapaugh, Director of the CSR and Brian Kingzett, Manager of the Deep Bay Field Station.

Dr. Nilson thanked the Prime Minister for taking the time to visit the Deep Bay Field Station which is a flagship of VIU and demonstrates VIU’s leadership in supporting economic development of coastal communities along Vancouver Island and throughout coastal BC.

Prime Minister Harper was interested to learn the history of Vancouver Island University and its uniqueness as an educational institution that supports both trades and academic training. This point was highlighted by the recent construction of the 40-foot aluminum catamaran MV Chetlo by the VIU aluminum boatbuilding program students using Canada Foundation for Innovation funding received by the Deep Bay Field Station.

Looking out onto beautiful Baynes Sound and the working waterfront of shellfish farming activity that can be viewed from all points in the Field Station, Kingzett explained the importance of the area to the shellfish industry, the $20 million in annual economic value and the associated jobs.

Throughout his conversations with the Prime Minister, Tillapaugh emphasized the importance of federal science and technology programs to the development of the CSR and the Deep Bay Field Station as well as all of the research activities conducted in support of the shellfish aquaculture industry.

Tillapaugh went on to explain the strategic importance of the public education and engagement programming that will be undertaken at the Field Station. The Prime Minister was very interested in the culinary theme (beach to bistro) and marine science.

VUI researcher Dr. Helen Gurney-Smith fielded the Prime Minister’s questions about the shellfish displayed in a small aquarium, and explained her research on genomics and new species development.

Field Station architect John Hemsworth discussed the wood components of the building as well as ocean geothermal technology that will heat the building.

Prime Minister Harper took the time to meet and shake hands with both the VIU representatives at the event as well as the Field Station construction crew and insisted on group pictures to mark the event for everyone.

The Deep Bay Field Station is one of 200 research infrastructure projects funded as part of the Knowledge Infrastructure Program rolled out under the federal economic stimulus package in 2009. The Field Station is unique in Canada due to its clam shell shape, LEED Platinum design and multipurpose function. See viu.ca/deepbay for more pictures and information on the Deep Bay Field Station.

Federal government programs supporting the Centre for Shellfish Research and the Deep Bay Field Station include:

• Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP)

• Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

• Genome Canada (through Genome BC)

• Western Economic Diversification (WED)

• National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

• DFO Aquaculture Research and Development Program (DFO- ACRDP)

• DFO Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (DFO- AIMAP)