CONFERENCE RECAP: COLLABORATION with Shift Coastal Technologies that can monitor pollution, enhance port security, and perform environmental data collection — work that was once dependent on large patrol vessels. The Nation also employs high-powered drones equipped with gas sensors and water sampling gear for rapid response. “These technologies,” White said, “are how we’re protecting our waters and securing our future.”
Every response circled back to the same principle: relationships before projects. As Sperber put it, “Before there’s a project, there’s a relationship...”
community and First Nation engage- ment. “Every time I go into a new community, the first people I meet with are the local Nation,” he said. “We need to understand their oppor- tunities and challenges before we talk about development.” Lessons in listening The panel concluded with questions from the audience, touching on topics from employment opportunities for First Nations to the meaning of free, prior, and informed consent. Hais noted that the Port employs Indigenous staff and offers scholar- ships for Indigenous students pursu- ing marine studies. White elaborated on Snuneymuxw’s Marine Division, which employs 25 people across emer- gency response, environmental mon- itoring, fisheries, and enforcement — working in close coordination with the Port. Every response circled back to the same principle: relationships before projects. As Sperber put it, “Before there’s a project, there’s a relationship. And whatever we build — whether or not the project moves forward — the relationship has to last.” By the end of the session, one mes- sage had become clear: the future of port development and marine govern- ance on Canada’s West Coast depends on trust, respect, and shared leader- ship. Gone are the days when eco- nomic progress could be pursued in isolation. Today, collaboration is not only a moral and legal obligation but a competitive advantage. “We’re all try- ing to move away from missed oppor- tunities,” Michell said in closing. “The only way forward is together.”
behind them, and the partnerships that make them possible.” Beyond consultation: Shared prosperity For both Sperber and Stansfield, col- laboration is no longer about “consul- tation” — it’s about shared prosperity. Joint governance frameworks, co-cre- ated project plans, and mutual respect are replacing transactional approaches. “Economic logic isn’t the only logic in the room,” Sperber reminded the audience. “We have to recognize other value systems — cultural, environ- mental, and spiritual.” Stansfield added that his organiza- tion is formalizing new processes for
Hais agreed that innovation and collaboration are now inseparable. “The old way — where a port just went ahead with a project — is gone,” she said. “Every major initiative now involves collaboration: with our First Nation partners, our municipality, and our community.” One example is the Port’s proposed mooring buoy project — the first of its kind on Canada’s West Coast. “It’s not just about the buoys,” Hais explained. “It’s about the technology and data
August 2026
Join us in Guam! APP 112 th Annual Conference
36 — PACIFIC PORTS — October/November 2025
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