By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo Port Authority boss announces retirement

Jun 14, 2017 | 5:04 PM

NANAIMO — The head of the Nanaimo Port Authority (NPA) is calling it a career after 40-years in the transportation industry.

Bernie Dumas, 63, announced his retirement as president and chief executive officer of the NPA effective Sept. 30.

Dumas said he’s proud of how he helped diversify the Port’s operation during his nearly nine-year tenure.

“When I came here (we were) in a tough position with just being a forest distribution centre, now we’re a multi modal port,” Dumas said.

NPA board chair Moira Jenkins said Dumas was instrumental in “transforming our Port.”

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“He really achieved that,” Jenkins said. “Our Duke Point containerization has been really successful and it’s thanks to Bernie for laying that foundation.”

Dumas said heading the Port hasn’t always been smooth sailing. He cited the underwhelming cruise ship industry in Nanaimo as his top regret.

“I think it has to do with my personal goal of having 20 (to) 25 cruise ships (per year) and we’ve got six or seven,” Dumas said. “We seem to be stalled a bit in terms of getting new ones.”

Dumas said more community support is required to create attractions to help the cruise business flourish locally.

Jenkins noted boosting Nanaimo’s cruise ship industry will continue to be a focus, as will further expanding their deep sea dock operation at Duke Point.

She said the next face of the NPA will need to be a relationship builder and someone who’s passionate about Nanaimo and Vancouver Island.

“Someone who can facilitate, support to all of our stakeholders, both the local community, our First Nations communities in this general area and of course the federal and provincial governments.”

The NPA anticipates having a new president and CEO in place next fall.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes