Marine Institute makes another splash in Holyrood

By Mark Squibb \ May 18, 2023

The Marine Institute marked the official opening of The Launch research facility and dedication of the Arthur W. May Building in Holyrood on Monday.

The Launch, formerly the Holyrood Marine Base, is a marine lab that offers students and researchers the opportunity to explore near-Artic conditions and safely test technology and train in harsh conditions.

“This is a day that we have all been anxiously awaiting,” said Mayor Goobie, who added the Marine Institute has been a welcome addition to the town since it set up operations in 2010. “Your presence in the town is a catalyst to expanding our economic strategy for future growth, development, and prosperity. We have been actively engaged with the Marine Institute since the conception of their plan for a world-class facility.”

Goobie said the town is closely linked to the base, and “has shared in its challenges and celebrated its successes.”

He also touted the Holyrood Oceans Initiative, a collaboration between the Town and the Marine Institute to further cold-water research in the region.

“From an economic standpoint, our Town has recognised the boundless opportunities which we accrue from the presence of The Launch and the Dr. Arthur May facility,” said Goobie. “As a council, we have listened intently and have carefully and strategically identified ways we can assist and support the initiatives of the Marine Institute as they raise the bar for new, futuristic, and forward-thinking ocean-related activity.”

Goobie said he hopes the Marine Institute will be but the first tenant of the harbour.

“My only concern is that when staff see the whales showing off in the harbour and the sailboats coming to-and-fro, they’re not going to get any work done, because they’ll be too consumed with all the distractions,” he added.

Several speakers, Goobie included, praised the late MUN President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Arthur W. May, for whom the building was named. May was not only a marine industries scholar, but also the first Newfoundlander to have served as a deputy minister in the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

May’s son, Stephen, spoke on behalf of the May family.

“While the building’s motto may be ‘As Real as it Gets,’ for us it’s a little surreal,” May admitted. “Dad would have been honoured and humbled to have this building named after him. While he had many achievements, serving as President of his university was his proudest. That Memorial and the Marine Institute would commemorate his service by naming this building after him would have been greatly appreciated. He would have probably appreciated it more than had they named a vessel after him, because I remember him saying, ‘You never want your name to go on a boat, because if it sinks, your name is forever linked to a marine disaster.”

And while many speakers spoke of May’s dedication to his field and the impact he has had on generations of students and researchers, the chairman of Memorial’s Board of Regents, Glenn Barnes, spoke of another passion in May’s life — his community service with the Rotary Club of St. John’s.

“Art was a long-time member of the Rotary Club, and it was through Rotary that I met him,” said Barnes. “I’m honored to be a past president and member of that Rotary Club, and to have served alongside Art for many years… Art was a very big part of Rotary’s work. Even while he was a busy President of Memorial, he found time to attend Rotary functions, meet with the Stokers, and participate, hand’s on, in community projects. He truly believed in the importance of Rotary’s work, and Art was not shy in expressing his views on the way forward. And his views were usually always right. And he always sold more flipper dinners than anyone else.”

The 36,000 sq. ftArthur May Building, meanwhile, features technical workspace, dry laboratories, classrooms and multiple collaboration spaces, and can be used by businesses, academia and researchers.

May served as President and Vice-Chancellor of Memorial University from 1990 until his retirement in August 1999. He began his career as a research scientist in the late fifties, and sat on numerous national and international boards. He died in 2014.