30th Annual Gales of November

This year the event pays special tribute to the 30th anniversary of the Gales of November. The Saturday Keynote Luncheon Speaker will discuss the French Navy minesweepers Inkerman and Cerisoles. 

To this day their fate remains one of the inexplicable mysteries of the Great Lakes, each with French 38 sailors and a Great Lakes pilot aboard. They were part of dozen of the tough little vessels built by Canadian Car and Foundry in Port Arthur, Ontario. The pair, plus the minesweeper Sebestapol, left Port Arthur on November 23, 1918 bound for Montreal, before final delivery to France. Somewhere in Lake Superior the Inkerman and Cerisoles disappeared. Desperate searches failed to find the missing warships. No confirmed human remains were ever recovered and what little flotsam was found gave no clues. Accusations of poor construction, shoddy seamanship and collision followed but real evidence was illusionary. French Navy investigations were equally befit of solutions. 2018 marks the centennial of their loss, and perhaps the year the great mystery will finally be solved.

The two-day educational, fundraising and networking event begins Friday, November 3 at noon with a luncheon hosted by the LSMMA and the Duluth-Superior Propeller Club and continues throughout the day with tours and an Evening Fundraising Gala. 

Friday’s joint luncheon keynote speakers are Bruce Burrows, President, Chamber of Marine Commerce and James Weakley, President, Lake Carriers Association who will discuss the unique issues that affect our Great Lakes Seaway System in these changing times. Presented by the Chamber of Marine Commerce

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Joint Keynote Luncheon Speakers – 12:00 pm

Bruce Burrows, President, Chamber of Marine Commerce

Mr. Burrows was appointed President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce effective December 2016. Most recently, he was with TACTIX Government Relations and Public Affairs where he led their ‘Transportation and Infrastructure’ practice. Mr. Burrows draws on strong advocacy skills and close to 35 years of experience in the transportation and industrial sectors, having held progressively senior positions at Canadian Pacific in Canada and Europe, before serving as a senior executive at the Railway Association of Canada, including as Acting President/CEO. Mr. Burrows has attained a distinguished list of achievements for the organizations he has represented including passage of major legislation, tax freezes, capital cost allowance improvements, and federal government funding for major capital projects. In the past he has been a board director of the Transportation Association of Canada, the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council, the Canadian Society of Association Executives (OG) and member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Transportation and International Affairs committees and the National Roundtable on the Environment and Economy’s Advisory Committee. He was co-founder of the Ottawa “Learning Lunches” series for association senior executive development. 

James Weakley, President, Lake Carriers Association

James H. I. Weakley is a 1984 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Mr. Weakley sailed aboard the USCG Cutter MIDGET as an Engineering Officer. His shore side assignments in the Coast Guard included Pollution Response and Vessel Inspection, as well as Search and Rescue. In 1993, Mr. Weakley entered the private sector, joining The Interlake Steamship Company as Personnel Director. During his career with Interlake, he advanced to the position of Operations Manager. A member of the Coast Guard Reserve, Mr. Weakley was recalled to active duty on September 2001 and was a founding member of the Maritime Security Division for the 9th Coast Guard District. During his Coast Guard career, Mr. Weakley was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, two Achievement Medals, a Humanitarian Service Medal and two National Defense Medals, as well as personal and unit awards. Mr. Weakley earned a Masters of Business Administration from the Executive Program at Case Western Reserve University in 1999.                                                                                                           

Afternoon Tours and Special Events - 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Evening Event 5:30 – 8:00 pm

Opening Evening Gala at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center – Lake Superior Ballroom

Featuring Evening Keynote Speaker - Captain Jay Hanson, North Shore Scenic Cruises

Gales of November festivities resume at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4 and run until 7:30 p.m. The day is filled with maritime related educational breakout presentations, exhibit hall, silent auction, and an opportunity to win the summer 2018 Cruise of a Lifetime raffle on a Central Marine Logistics great lakes vessel. All events take place at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. 

Tickets to Gales of November are required.  Gales of November details and registration information can be found at www.LSMMA.com.

LSMMA is a nonprofit organization established in 1973 to preserve the region’s maritime history. For more information, call LSMMA at 218 727-2497 or visit www.lsmma.com.