CSBC News Splash October 2017
Canadian Safe Boating Council Symposium 2017 Report

Capt. Alain Arsenault, President, Corporation Pilots Saint-Laurent Central

The CSBC Symposium was held in Quebec City from September 17-19. It was a great opportunity to learn about developments and best practices in boating safety within Canada and internationally, and to focus on boating safety issues in Quebec. This is why we hold our Symposium in different parts of Canada, so we can learn about local boating issues and meet the local boating community.
  
Following is an outline of the presentations. The presentations will be loaded onto the CSBC website (https://csbc.ca/en/events/annual-symposium/2017-symposium-presentations) as they are available.

Canadian Coast Guard -Moving Forward: Sylvain Vézina, Regional Director, Programs, CCG Central and Arctic Region

Transport Canada Update: Ian Campbell, Manager, Small and Fishing Vessels, Design and Equipment Standards and Boating Safety

Safety in the Harbour: a Shared Responsibility: Panel Discussion:
Moderator: Capt. Yoss Leclerc, Former VP and Chief of Maritime Operations, Port of Quebec, Logistro Consulting International
Participants:
Stacy Dufour, Superintendent, Search and Rescue, CCG Central and Arctic Region
Capt. Alain Arsenault, President, Corporation Pilots Saint-Laurent Central
Ian Campbell, Transport Canada

Boating Safety in New Zealand:
Pania Shingleton, Education and Communications Manager, Maritime New Zealand
Nicole Botherway, Education Manager, Farming and Maritime Services, Waikato Regional Council
Tourism Québec: Philippe Trempe, Direction des politiques et de l'intelligence d'affaires
Strength in Social Media, New Promotions on Safe Boater Behaviour: Alain Roy, Executive Director, Association Maritime du Québec
Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (Quebec): Ted Smith
Boating Safety Developments in the United States:
U.S. Coast Guard: Jeffrey E. Decker, CIV, Office of Boating Safety
U.S. National Safe Boating Council: Rachel Johnson, Executive Director
Video Messages from France: Pierre Brugnon, Head of Mission: Prevention, Societé Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer
Red Cross Projet VFI/Personal Flotation Device Project: Clarence Therrien
Canada/U.S. Lifejacket Harmonization Update: Roxanne Standefer
Quebec Lifesaving Society Public Education Programs: Raynald Hawkins, General Manager
Canadian Boating Safety Education Projects: Extending our Reach: Barbara Byers, Public Education Director, Lifesaving Society and Ted Rankine and Stephanie Rankine, Playsafe Productions
Junior and Adult Canadian Ranger Programs in Quebec: Carl Wolfe
Caption : Roxanne Standefer

Outside the formal sessions, Symposium participants had the opportunity to tour the Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre and the Marine Rescue Sub-Centre, and observe firsthand the diversity of marine traffic in the harbour.
At the banquet, Ron Kroeker, CSBC Director, presented highlights from Christopher Wright's research on the history of marine transportation in Canada's North.
Here are highlights of what Symposium delegates said about this year's event:
"This symposium was packed with useful and inspiring information on the world of boating safety"
"Excellent speakers, great fellowship, networking"
"Easy to interact with people. You are not just a number in the crowd"
"Best ever program!"
"Excellent location and agenda, very relevant topics"
"Presentations excellent, great interaction with people with great programs and ideas"
"Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere"
"The best symposium I have ever been to"
What would you like to see changed? "It's pretty damn good as it is!"
99% of the delegate evaluations rated the presentations Relevant or Very Relevant. 51% of the evaluations rated the presentations Very Good and 46% rated them Good.
  
Many thanks to the Symposium Committee, led by Committee Co-Chairs Cyndi Hodgson, Rick Cassels, John Gullick, Larry Jacobs and Clara Reinhardt, Carl Wolfe, Ron Kroeker, Ian Gilson,  Ted Rankine, Barbara Byers, Robert Dupel, Vahe Vassilian, Alain Roy and Jean Murray, as well as the local organizations who supported the Symposium activities. Our thanks go as well to the following industry sponsors, whose financial support made the Symposium possible:
Symposium Presenting Sponsor: Stearns
Gold Sponsors : Cook-Rees Memorial Fund for Water Search and Safety, Yamaha, Association Maritime du Québec
Silver Sponsors : Mustang Survival, Salus Marine
Bronze Sponsors: Canadian Tire Corporation
We are already working on plans for next year's Symposium, to be held at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria, B.C.  Plan to join us next year from October  4 - 6, 2018!

CSBC Volunteer Recognition Awards 2017


The CSBC relies upon the hard work and commitment of volunteers to deliver our safety programs and events, and to run the organization. The annual Volunteer Recognition Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the CSBC. The following awards were announced by John Gullick, CSBC Chair, at the Symposium in September. Congratulations, and grateful thanks, to the award winners:
 
Ted Fortuna
CSBC Distinguished Service Citation - For your continuing fortitude and support of the Canadian Safe Boating Council, particularly with regards to the Ways and Means Committee and your especially close relationship with Coleman Stearns. You are making boating better.

Coleman Stearns

CSBC Certificate of Merit - For your long term commitment and outstanding support for the Canadian Safe Boating Council in making boating better.

CSBC Testifies Before Parliamentary Committee

The CSBC was invited to appear as a witness before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in its consideration of Bill C-46. The bill involves amendments to the Criminal Code relating to drinking and driving. Essentially, the amendments would add drugs to the existing alcohol provisions and also amend the definition of vessel being operated to exclude solely muscular powered vessels (which are currently included in the not drinking and driving prohibition).
 
In their testimony on September 25, 2017, CSBC Chair John Gullick and Vice Chair Michael Vollmer expressed the CSBC's support for the expanded basis of impairment to include drugs; pointed out that excluding manually powered vessels would reduce safety; and proposed that the legislation use the Canada Shipping Act 2001 definition of vessel, for consistency and ease of enforcement.

Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs)

The 2017 CASBAs awards gala and dinner will be held on Sunday January 14, 2018 at the Westin Harbour Castle, a new venue for us in Toronto. This 20th Anniversary CASBA Gala will be a special evening. To celebrate this milestone along with the Toronto International Boat Show's 60th anniversary, a unique tribute event is planned for January 14. Spend an evening with colleagues and friends as we recognize those whose have risen to the challenge of making boating a better experience for all. Each CASBA event has shared amazing stories of bravery, innovation, passion and dedication. It is an honour for the Council to be hosting our twentieth gala...we hope to see you there. Register now! https://csbc.ca/en/events/casbas/casba-overview 

It's not too late to nominate an individual , a group or organization whose efforts in the field of boating safety or environmental stewardship deserve national recognition.  Award categories include the following:
STEARNS  - Rescue of the Year
Marine Professional of the Year
Top Volunteer Dedicated to Safe Boating
Ontario Power Generation - Best Boating Safety Initiative
Safeguarding the Environment
Marine Industry Award
Visible PFD Wear in Advertising
 Best Media Contribution to Boating Safety
Special Recognition Award
Nomination forms and documentation may be emailed to [email protected] or sent by post to - Canadian Safe Boating Council, 400 Consumers Road, Toronto ON, M2J 1P8.


                                                                                                           

NOMINATIONS will be accepted until November 10, 2017
It's not too late to nominate... Click here.

The CSBC welcomes and appreciates the contributions from sponsors that make this event possible. To find out how to become a sponsor, click here.

Drowning Research
The Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada - the lead agency for drowning and water-incident research in Canada - is investing $1.3 million dollars over the next three years to develop the partnerships and processes required to collect, analyze and report on non-fatal drownings in Canada. 

In brief                              

Did you know that you can direct your United Way Campaign donation to any registered Canadian charity? Please consider donating to the Canadian Safe Boating Council; our registration number is 875659864RR0001.

Rachel Johnson, Executive Director of the U.S. National Safe Boating Council , is moving on. Rachel has been a great friend and partner of the CSBC for many years. She has made a significant contribution to improving boating safety in North America, and in forging partnerships with international colleagues, not only in North America but in Australia and New Zealand as well. We will miss her, and wish her well for the future.

SARscene 2017 will be held at the Radisson Hotel Winnipeg Downtown from November 20-21. The theme for this year's conference is Moving Forward Collaboratively, and registration is free this year. For more information, visit the Public Safety Canada website. 


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