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Team

Each year, members of the BC Coast Pilots elect an executive team who works with the general manager and staff to set and carry out the organization’s priorities. This year, the elected representatives of the BCCP are:
President: Captain Roy Haakonson
Vice-President: Captain Steve Kennedy
Director: Captain Dean Nelson
Director: Captain Mike Young
Director: Captain Nathan Boutilier
Captain Roy Haakonson
BC Coast Pilots  President

Captain Roy Haakonson

BC Coast Pilots President

With 45 years of marine service under his belt, Captain Roy Haakonson is a seasoned mariner. He is honoured to have served as President and Vice President of the BC Coast Pilots, an organization which he has proudly been a part of for 17 years. His call to sea came at the young age of 15, when he started his journey with the west coast fishing industry, followed by a handful of years spent in Beaufort Sea for oil and gas exploration. This experience eventually led him to study navigation at what is now the BCIT Marine campus in North Vancouver. Though he enjoyed his other time at sea, it was the memory of seeing pilots berthing ships at Alberta Wheat Pool with his father that drove him to submit an application to become what he always knew he wanted to be. “Piloting makes a difference to the people and the environment of Canada every day”, he says. “It is that responsibility that, for me, makes piloting an extremely rewarding career.” When he’s not at sea, you can find Roy spending time with his family or riding his motorcyle.
Captain Steve Kennedy
BC Coast Pilots Vice President

Captain Steve Kennedy

BC Coast Pilots Vice President

Meet Captain Steve Kennedy, our new Vice President! Born and raised on the west coast, as a young boy, he lived in the Queen Charlotte Islands before relocating to Victoria BC. His father worked as a commercial fisher and logger, which gave Steve an early desire to work on the water. Captain Kennedy’s first job as a teen was working on a commercial fishing boat. After graduation, he went to sea on the Parizeau, an offshore research ship. In 1992 he completed his Watchkeeping Mate Certificate and moved to the Department of Fisheries and worked as Mate and eventually Skipper, running patrol boats from Victoria to West Coast Haida Gwaii. In the late 1990s, he started sailing on Coast Guard ships working Navigational Aids from Victoria to the Western Arctic. In 2011, Captain Kennedy joined the BC Coast Pilots. With a total of 33 years of seagoing experience, he has served a term on the BCCPS’ Benefits Committee and is now proudly serving as the Vice President.
"Safeguarding the waters of BC is our responsibility"
– Captain Robin Stewart
"Piloting makes a difference to the people and the environment of Canada every day.
It is that responsibility that, for me, makes piloting an extremely rewarding career."
– Roy Haakonson
Captain Dean Nelson
BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Dean Nelson

BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Nelson was born and raised on the west coast. He comes from a family of maritime background where his father worked for DFO. His uncle worked in the tug industry and later transitioned to be a senior Launch Master at the Victoria pilot station. Dean started his marine career at DFO and became interested in Piloting after seeing several officers working with DFO becoming marine pilots. Captain Nelson began his apprenticeship with BC Coast Pilots in 2000 and became a licensed Pilot in 2001. Being a pilot for the last 20 years has been rewarding. He looks forward to serving the company as a Director level while moving the company towards achieving its strategic goals.
"I started my marine career on a tugboat when I was 15. Everyone starts somewhere, and it’s not all at the same place."
– Steve Stangroom
Captain Nathan Boutilier
BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Nathan Boutilier

BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Nathan Boutilier grew up in Vancouver Island. At the age of two he started going out with his family for sport fishing. Throughout his teen years, he spent most of his summers on commercial fishing vessels along the West Coast. In his mid-twenties, he started working in Tug/Barge and general cargo vessels. Capt. Boutilier joined the BCCP family in 2012 and is proud to be safely navigating all kinds of vessels along our BC Coast. On his spare time, he enjoys travelling and exploring outdoor activities both on and off the water with his family.
"I have always been drawn to the ocean. I love that I have a job protecting the natural environment I have grown to respect so much."
– Peter Koehle
Captain Mike Young
BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Mike Young

BC Coast Pilots Director

Born and raised on the west coast, Captain Young has always felt at home on the sea. He saved up to buy his first sailboat at the age of eight and has been navigating the waters of our beautiful coastline and beyond ever since (though in slightly bigger boats, now). His professional career in the marine industry started in his teens, where he worked on tugboats out of his home of Quadra Island. After some adventures at sea in his youth, Mike began a 20-year career as a Master at Seaspan and eventually became a licensed BC Coast Pilot in 2008. Captain Youngs’ intuitive knowledge of the BC coastline helps him navigate vessels with precise safety and respect for the environment. He’s proud to be able to do his part in keeping this great part of Canada safe.
"When I started on a commercial fishing vessel as a teenager and heard about a career in pilotage, I didn’t know how far I could go. Ask me to tell you a story"
– Brad Taipalus