St. Lawrence Seaway kicking off new season with ‘Seaway Week’ events

OTTAWA, Ont. — The Great Lakes-Seaway navigation season will kick off next week with a series of events celebrating the economic significance of the marine shipping industry.

Dubbed “Seaway Week,” the events will include the traditional opening day ceremony of the St. Lawrence Seaway at the Welland Canal on March 22.

Rob Bryson, director of Eastern Canadian grain operations for Parrish and Heimbecker, and Donald Gallienne, director of finished product transportation logistics for Aluminerie Alouette, will serve as keynote speakers at the opening ceremony. The executives will be sharing how marine transportation on the Seaway enables their firms to trade in a global economy.

Following that public celebration, the chief executives of the two Seaway management corporations will be speaking at economic clubs and chambers of commerce in cities in Canada and the US

Terence Bowles, chief executive of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, will appear at a Canadian Club luncheon event in Montreal and an Economic Club of Canada luncheon in Toronto on March 26 and 27, respectively.

Collister Johnson, Jr., Administrator of the US Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation will speak at the “Breakfast on the Move” briefing series at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. on March 26.

He will also be the keynote speaker at a breakfast meeting of The Greater Cleveland Partnership – Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition on March 28.

“The St. Lawrence Seaway plays an integral role in the economic prosperity of Canada,” said Ray Johnston, president of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “The marine highway is an essential corridor for US/Canadian trade as well as connecting North American ports with the Atlantic Ocean and world markets. As this 54th navigation season begins, this is the perfect opportunity to underline these benefits to the public and business communities.”