International Day for Women in Maritime: Candace Edwards and a Life in Maritime Service

On this International Day for Women in Maritime, we are proud to highlight Candace Edwards (far right), a member of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 505, whose nearly 20-year career at the Port of Prince Rupert reflects dedication, resilience, and a strong passion for the maritime industry.
 
For Candace, working on the waterfront has always meant more than just a job. Growing up with a father who spent 43 years as a longshoreman, she was always part of the industry. Although she admired the work from afar, she never imagined she would one day follow in his footsteps.
 
“Working in my field of work is extremely important to me, especially in a male-dominated industry,” she says. “It breaks down those stereotypes and gender roles that are often associated with women in a ‘male’ environment.”
 
At 22 years old, Candace applied to work at the newly developed container port in Prince Rupert, calling it “a leap of faith” at a time when she was unsure of what direction she wanted to take in life.  Since starting her career in 2007, she has built extensive experience across many areas of the waterfront, proving herself every bit as capable as her male counterparts. Her experience includes operating cranes on log ships, operating gantry cranes used to load and unload container ships, performing manual labour on both the rail and ship side, tying up and letting go container, pellet, and cruise ships, and dispatching union and casual personnel through the union hall. She also became the first woman in Prince Rupert to obtain a gantry crane rating.
 
“I’m rarely working the same job every day, which is great,” she says. “It breaks up the monotony of doing the same job day in and day out.”
 
Beyond the waterfront, Candace is a devoted mother of three who balances the demands of her career with family life alongside her fiancé. Although life can be hectic at times, she says she wouldn’t have it any other way.
 
Throughout her career, Candace has also seen positive changes for women working in the maritime industry. When she first started, there were very few women on the waterfront, but over time, she has seen more women enter the field and continue proving themselves through tireless effort and commitment.
 
“Women can do just as good a job, if not better, in my opinion, and I will never let anyone tell me otherwise,” she says.
 
For women interested in pursuing a career in maritime, Candace encourages them to stay confident in who they are and trust the work they put in. “Own your voice,” she says. “Hard work and dedication speak for themselves.”
 
As a member of the team responsible for securing and releasing cruise vessels, she enjoys welcoming visitors to Prince Rupert and witnessing the community come alive on cruise days.
 
“Our little community gets busier on cruise ship days,” she says. “They get to see the shops Prince Rupert has to offer and take part in the tours we offer here. Nothing beats it, especially on a beautiful summer day.”
 
As Prince Rupert continues to welcome a growing number of cruise visitors each season, Candace takes pride in being part of the waterfront community and helping create memorable experiences for guests arriving in port.

Photo 1 (left to right): Caitlyn Cook, Danny Cook, Candace Edwards
Photo 2 (left to right): Candace Edwards, Morgan Sampson
Photo 3 (left to right): Candace Edwards, Kirsten Trask
Photo 4 (left to right): Candace Edwards, Glen Edwards