The Maritime Council of Machinists (MCM) started as a President's Conference in Halifax, Nova
Scotia in the fall of October 1995.  Local Lodges 2382, 2418, 2253, 1505, 1934, 864, 1627, 1763
1723, 2797 and 482 attended.  The President's and Vice President's were in attendance for all locals
mentioned, except LL2382, Roe was the only attendee.  That year we had three days of workshop on
HPWO, and nothing existed to keep our members informed, or for our Locals to share ideas and
receive education.

The following year, 1996, we moved to Charlottetown, P.E.I. and held the President's Conference
there.  Local Lodges 2253 and 2382 were not in attendance.  Jim Leslie as well as the Director of
Strategic  Resources attended from Placid Harbor.  These two guests gave three days of
workshops on Placid Harbor and Strategic Resources and they also put together a plan to form
the council of machinists.

In 1997, the Presidents Conference was held in Moncton, N.B. where it had grown in numbers,
more members attended and our guest lists grew as well.  Local Lodges 1627, 2382 and 684 did not
attend.  Shop Steward Training and Grievance Handling was the theme that year.  The most
important thing to rise out of the Presidents Conference was the idea of creating The Maritime
Council of Machinists (MCM), hence that year our dream was born, discussed and agreed upon.
By-laws, Executive Board Members, Theme for Conference, etc. were tabled and discussed.

Finally, October 17th, 18th, & 19th, 1998, the MCM held their Founding Convention in Moncton, N.B.
All Locals attended except Local Lodges 2253 and 2382.  We elected an Executive Board, held the
first business meeting of the MCM.  We heard reports from General Vice President - Dave Ritchie, and Grand Lodge Representative - Tom Lee, reports from Local Lodges, etc. invited guest speakers
NDP Leaders from N.S., N.B., & P.E.I.

Since 2000 our MCM is held every year at the Delta Beausejour, Moncton, N.B. because of its central
location.  Past President Dan Reid started up a website for the MCM under the domain name
Maritime Machinists.ca in 2006.  Since the MCM has been established many delegates have benefited
from the many educational courses offered at the William W. Winpisinger Center at Placid Harbor,
Baltimore, Maryland.  Following are a few pictures of our center.