MI Director Picks Up 2015 Indspire Award

MI’s director of development and engagement recently joined a prestigious and select group of Canadians who have received the Indspire Award (formally known as the National Aboriginal Achievement Award)

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Gerald Anderson is the fourth individual from Newfoundland and Labrador to be recognized by Indspire and recently accepted his award in the category of environment and natural resources during a gala held in Calgary.

The Indspire Awards are the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon its own achievers. The Awards recognize Indigenous professionals and youth who demonstrate outstanding career achievement. The environment and natural resources award recognizes Mr. Anderson’s work in establishing fisheries and marine education in Nunavik, Nunavut and Labrador.

“I am humbled by this recognition and want to thank those who have supported my efforts to build and strengthen relationships and training in the North,” said Mr. Anderson. “Working at the Marine Institute has allowed me many opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally and I would not be able to pursue this important work without such a fantastic university community.”

“Gerald has made numerous important contributions to the success of MI over the past 27 years. His efforts have brought training to those who would otherwise be unable to access the necessary education to gain employment in the fisheries sector and marine transportation industry,” said Glenn Blackwood, vice-president of Memorial University for the Fisheries and Marine Institute. “On behalf of everyone at the Institute, I offer my sincere congratulations to him on this very deserving recognition and we look forward to working with him in the future.”

Mr. Anderson first learned he was a 2015 Indspire Award recipient in November, 2014 at which time he travelled to Ottawa where he attended a reception hosted by the Speaker of the House, was introduced in the House of Commons and took a tour of Parliament.

This was followed by two days of activities and the official gala in late February where he gathered with co-workers, family and fellow recipients to celebrate. As part of the events, Mr. Anderson took part in in a special luncheon where he shared his experiences with a number of Indigenous youth from across Canada, a recipient’s dinner and the awards gala ceremony – where he was officially presented with his award. With close to 200 individuals in the production crew and nine performers throughout the evening, the gala saw close to 2000 people fill Calgary’s Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

“It was an overwhelming experience and one I won’t soon forget,” continued Mr. Anderson. “It is an honour to be listed amongst such a phenomenal group of recipients – both past and present.”

The gala will be broadcast nationally on Global Television and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) in late April.

Indspire is an Indigenous-led registered charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire disburses financial awards, delivers programs, and shares resources with the goal of closing the gap in Indigenous education.