August 22, 2004
For Immediate Release

Canada Ports Group Honours Contribution Made to the Canadian
Port Community

The Board of Directors of the Association awarded the prestigious Medal of Merit award at its recent 46 Annual Meeting and Conference held in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

This year's recipient was Melvin (Mel) Woodward, founder and CEO of the Woodward Group of Companies employing over 400 people. In 1960 he founded Woodward’s Oil Limited and over the next four decades Mr. Woodward built a number of enterprises encompassing fuel, trucking, stevedoring, transportation of petroleum and chemical products and automotive leasing and sales.

He has been an active participant in both the regional and national maritime community for the past 40 years in both a public and private capacity; and he’s still very active. During that time he has made a tremendous contribution to the professional development of the maritime sector. Past Chair of the Association and CEO of the Saint John Port Authority, Al Soppitt, commented that, “The fact that he hails from Newfoundland and Labrador makes it even more special given that this year’s Annual Meeting and Conference was hosted by the St. John’s Port Authority.”

"We could not have chosen a better candidate for the highest award given out by our Association," said Al Soppitt, Immediate Past Chair of the Association. The Medal of Merit is, "made in recognition of outstanding works or service, preferably of national impact, by an individual, institution or organization in the port, shipping and maritime fields." Mr. Woodword clearly meets this standard given his impressive tenure in the maritime sector since 1960. Mr. Woodward has a distinguished career in public life and community service having served on a number of Boards: Director, Bank of Canada, 1981-1987; Founding Member and President, the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce; President of the Liberal Association; Chairman of the Enterprise Development Board for Industry, Trade and Commerce; Member of the Board of Regents, Memorial University; and Chairman, St. John's Port Authority from October 1994 to April 2004.
In 1996, Mr. Woodward was honoured with the Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Master Entrepreneur Category. He was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Hall of Fame in 2001 and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2003.

The Medal of Merit has been awarded annually by the Association since 1975. Past recipients have included Charles Hurst (Charlottetown, 1976); Brian Gallery (Montreal, 1983); William B. Rest (Toronto, 1997); Henri Allard (Quebec City, 1999); Madeleine Paquin (Richmond, 2001); Hon. David Collenette (Windsor, 2002), and Michel Pouliot (Trois-Rivieres, 2003).

For more information please contact:
Gary LeRoux
Executive Director
Association of Canadian Port Authorities

Phone: (613) 232-2036

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities was founded in 1958 and groups together ports and harbours and related marine interests into one, national association. The ACPA is the pre-eminent Association for the advocacy and advancement of the Canadian Port Industry. ACPA members contribute greatly to the local, regional and national economy of Canada with over $100 billion worth of goods handled annually.

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