The Maritime Awards Society of Canada (MASC) is a national foundation and registered charitable organization created to enhance public awareness and understanding of the vital importance of maritime affairs to the well being of all Canadians. Its vision is to be recognized as the premier organization in Canada for the promotion of public awareness, education, and debate regarding ocean-related issues as well as the dissemination of information on maritime affairs to all Canadians. The Society is dedicated to enhancing its reputation as a valued, apolitical, national, non-profit, charitable organization by hosting public forums and workshops that address Canadian maritime concerns.

MASC was established in 1987 as a fund-raising initiative of the Naval Officers Association of Vancouver Island (NOAVI). The Society's objective is to offer graduate scholarships to students researching and writing in the broad field of ocean studies. The first MASC scholarship established at the University of Victoria and was followed in the 1990s with similar scholarships for masters and doctoral candidates at three other Canadian universities: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dalhousie University and the University of Calgary.