Darryl Blyth’s recent collaboration with the BC Maritime Employers Association is more than just a masterstroke of First Nations art. Beyond the craftsmanship, the parallels are endless, the message timeless and the commitment unending.
Two orcas swimming in tandem with a marine vessel in what is a quintessential snapshot of life on Canada’s West Coast, where cultures and industry exist in harmony and balance.
Celebrating collaboration through art
Entitled “Oceans Together,” Blyth’s mural proudly adorns the BCMEA’s Dispatch Centre in East Vancouver, a central hub of maritime operations where up to 1,500 longshore workers are dispatched to work ports in Vancouver up to Squamish every day.
“The mural underscores the power of unity and how much we can accomplish when we collaborate meaningfully with Indigenous communities and industry partners,” says Mike Leonard, BCMEA president and CEO. “It’s our hope that it acts as a visual reminder, encouraging all to honour and learn about Indigenous contributions to B.C.’s maritime sector.”
The mural is part of the BCMEA’s broader commitment to reconciliation, recognizing the deep ties between Indigenous communities and the maritime industry. The BCMEA-led initiative stands as a cultural landmark honouring Indigenous communities and the historic roles they have played in stewarding B.C.’s waterways since time immemorial.
This mural project aligns with the BCMEA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen workforce development, ensuring skilled workers, including Indigenous workers, continue to be part of a sustainable maritime industry. Indigenous peoples make up about 10% of B.C.'s waterfront workforce, with strong representation throughout Prince Rupert and Stewart regions, where nearly 45% of the workforce is Indigenous. This is just the beginning, as BCMEA plans to build on this initiative with future projects that further support reconciliation and representation in the maritime sector.
Bringing the mural to life
A mural installation at the BCMEA Dispatch Centre with an Indigenous focus has been a goal of the BCMEA’s dispatch team for years. The project and broader reconciliation efforts were brought into greater focus in recent years thanks to the direction of the BCMEA Board of Directors and the efforts of the BCMEA staff. Beginning in early 2024, the area’s three First Nations – Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh – were engaged for their guidance to develop an artist selection process and request-for-proposals (RFP) that respected each Nation’s protocols.
“It was critically important to the BCMEA to meaningfully engage with the MST Nations to ensure alignment with cultural protocols and guidance on respectful communication,” Leonard says.
A voluntary artist selection committee was brought together, composed of representatives from the BCMEA, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 500 and Indigenous community representatives, to ensure a fair and transparent process and alignment with the RFP criteria and vision.
Among the many proposals received, Blyth’s background and concept deeply resonated with the committee. Beyond his extensive experience with organizations like the Orange Shirt Society, BMO and the Vancouver Canucks, Blyth also has personal ties to the maritime world — his father is a marine technician and he was a member of the Local 1 Marine Workers Union.
The project began in earnest in the fall of 2024, with Blyth commissioning a talented artist and muralist, Mike Elias, to assist in the installation. To watch the journey and the process behind bringing this mural to life, watch the YouTube video here.
A Musqueam artist and a former painter in the Vancouver maritime industry, Blyth’s work encompasses a neo-traditional Coast Salish style using ovoids, trigons and crescents.
It celebrates Indigenous history, particularly the deep connections between Indigenous peoples and the maritime industry.
“Oceans Together means the ocean is to share the world with everyone,” Blyth explains. “The orca whales travel with their family, representing our respect for nature. Behind them is a marine vessel that represents our maritime industry, which connects B.C. to the world.”
Leonard notes that the mural marks a significant point in a collective journey – that it’s a milestone to commemorate collaborative efforts along the pathway to reconciliation today and into the future.
“We know that this work is just beginning but it is an effort that we as an industry are committed to nurturing,” he says.
Dive deeper into the story behind Oceans Together by visiting www.bcmaritime.com.
