Canadian Safe Boating Council Symposium 2019 Report
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The CSBC Symposium was held at the Waterside Inn in Port Credit/Toronto from September 18 – 20. Symposium delegates were welcomed by CSBC Chair Joe Gatfield (pictured right) and Boating Ontario CEO Rick Layzell (pictured bottom) at the Welcome Reception and Opening Ceremony, with Past CSBC Chair John Gullick as MC.
This year we took the innovative step of devoting a whole day to one theme – the pressing issue of Shared Waterways. As many of us know, our harbours, rivers and coastal waters are getting busier and busier, with increasing numbers of recreational boaters, particularly paddlesports enthusiasts, many of them new to the water. When they find themselves having to share the water with large and small commercial vessels, ferries, fishing vessels and a wide variety of other types of recreational craft with their own operating characteristics, it is a recipe for misunderstandings, conflicts and, tragically, accidents, injuries and loss of life. The CSBC brought a variety of stakeholders together to explore these issues and involved all Symposium attendees in discussions on potential solutions.
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Introduction and Opening the Waterway to All in Toronto: Angus Armstrong, Toronto Harbour Master Emeritus
What Boats are being Sold in Canada: Rick Layzell, CEO Boating Ontario
Shared Waterways: the Port Saint John Experience: Jim Quinn, President and CEO, Port Saint John, N.B.
Big Ships, Little Boats and Even Rentals....Oh My! Jason Krott, Manager of Operations and Fleet, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
It Doesn’t Need to be a Port to be Busy: Greg Wilkinson, Chair – Advocacy and Public Policy, Safe Quiet Lakes
Big Changes for the Detroit River: Peter Berry, Director of Operations, Harbour Master, Windsor Port Authority
Share the Wave: Alain Roy, General Manager, Nautisme Quebec
Collision, Near Collision and the TSB: Capt. Pierre Murray, Manager Regional Operations/Marine – Atlantic, Transportation Safety Board
Shared Waterways Panel Discussion: Legislation, Education or ....?
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Moderator: Angus Armstrong, Port of Toronto
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Morten Fogh
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Jason Krott, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
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Pierre Murray, TSB
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Jim Quinn, Port Saint John
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Other Boating Safety Issues
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Federal Agencies Update:
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Sylvain Vézina, Regional Director, Programs, Central and Arctic Region, Canadian Coast Guard
Recreational Boating in New Zealand: a Collaborative Approach: Baz Kirk, Manager, Sector Engagement and Collaboration, Maritime New Zealand
Making Boating Safer: Verne Gifford, Chief, Boating Safety Division, U.S. Coast Guard
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Safety in Parks Canada Waterways: Chad Buckner, Manager, Canal Operations – Ontario Waterways, Parks Canada
CSBC Boating Safety Education Projects: Extending our Reach
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Barbara Byers, CSBC Director, Education Programs
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Ted Rankine, Cheryl Gallagher and Stephanie Rankine, Playsafe Productions
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After two days of intense discussions, delegates had built up quite a thirst, so the sampling of craft beers at Stone Hooker Brewery in Port Credit was a very welcome opportunity to relax and cement new friendships before the closing banquet.
Many thanks to the Symposium Committee, led by Committee Co-Chairs Lawrence Jacobs and Rick Cassels, together with Ron Kroeker, Ian Gilson, Alain Roy, Jean Murray, John Gullick, Angus Armstrong, Dave Moffatt, Peter Garapick, John McMullen and Joe Gatfield.
The CSBC very much appreciates the financial and in-kind support provided by our sponsors and partners, both for this event, and on an ongoing basis. Our thanks go in particular 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, Ontario Power Generation, Boating Ontario, Port of Vancouver
Silver Sponsors: Mustang Survival, Salus Marine Wear, iMarket Marine, UL, Sirius XM Marine
Bronze Sponsors: Canadian Tire Corporation, Princecraft, Transport Canada, Fell Marine
Here are highlights of what Symposium delegates said about this year’s event:
“Great conference and a great job”
“Thank you for a fantastic Symposium. Hope to be back again”
“Excellent – as always”
“Every single presentation was interesting and pertinent”
“All of it is totally relevant and good”
“Great presentations and an important theme with Shared Waterways”
“(Best part was) excellent program – quality speakers – broad audience of stakeholders”
“It is very inspiring to see all these organizations sharing common goals, along with their levels of dedication”
“One of the best I have ever been to”.
100%
of the respondents said the Symposium met or exceeded their expectations, and 93% said they plan to attend again in future (the rest said maybe).
Can’t get enough of the CSBC Symposium, or sorry you missed it in Port Credit? Bookmark your calendar for September 28 – October 1 next year, when we will be returning “Down East”, to the historic Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick.
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CSBC Volunteer Recognition Awards 2019
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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 Joe Gatfield, CSBC Chair, at the Symposium in September. Congratulations, and grateful thanks, to the award winners:
John Gullick
Distinguished Service Citation -
In recognition of your outstanding leadership as Chair of the
CSBC for the past four years, as well as your ongoing dedication and volunteer contribution to the CSBC over many years. (pictured above left)
Brenda Reeve
CSBC Certificate of Merit -
In recognition of your tireless efforts in managing the Canadian Safe Boating Awards and being a role model for teamwork on the CSBC Board
Roxanne Standefer
CSBC Certificate of Merit -
In recognition of your efforts in maintaining strong CSBC relations with the Cook-Rees Foundation and for your long term support to the CSBC on lifejacket harmonization issues
Bob Minielly
CSBC Milestone Award and Certificate of Merit -
In grateful recognition of your 16 years of dedicated volunteer service as a CSBC
Director and Chair, in addition to your significant contributions to the organization in multiple roles. (pictured above right)
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Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs)
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The 2019 CASBAs awards gala and dinner will be held on Sunday January 19, 2020 at an exciting new venue: the National Yacht Club at 1 Stadium Road in Toronto. Our focus continues to be honouring and celebrating those who have risen to the challenge of making boating a better experience for all, but we are changing the format from a sit-down formal dinner to a buffet reception that will allow attendees to mix and mingle with the award winners. To Toronto Boat Show attendees:
We have changed, so you don’t have to! In all of our activities, the CSBC creates community: bringing people together to learn from each other and join together in our commitment to boating safety.
Each CASBA event has shared amazing stories of bravery, innovation, passion and dedication. It is an honour for the Council to be hosting our twenty-second gala.......won’t you join us?
Register now!
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
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LCBO Donation Box Program
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Many thanks to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario for their support in including the CSBC in their Provincial Donation Box Program again this year. The program, whereby customers can drop their loose change in boxes on the cashiers' counters, is designed to help charities and social programs such as ours. CSBC participation ran from May 26 – June 22, 2019, and the LCBO recently advised that CSBC donations were more than $17,000, an increase over last year!
A big thank you to all who donated – your contributions will help make our waterways safer for everyone.
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Mesmerizing Antique Boats
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Missing last summer already? Our roving reporter and CSBC Secretary Ron Kroeker was at the Rideau Ferry Antique Boat Regatta, sponsored by the Manotick Antique Boat Society, on August 10 and spotted these beauties. There were some lovely boats going back as far as 1911. His favorite was a 1984 Hacker Craft built to a 1930 plan. For the motor enthusiasts, a big block 454 Chevy offered top speeds upwards of 80km/h.
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Lawrence Jacobs, Vice Chair, represented the Canadian Safe Boating Council at Ahoy! Oak Bay on August 24 at the Oak Bay Marina, Victoria, B.C. The event was organized by Boating BC as a kick-off to BC Boating Week.
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Marine Rules of the Road
By John Gullick,
CSBC Past Chair and Manager of Government and Special Programs for Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS)
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Background (from Global News): August 24 - 25 was a deadly weekend on Ontario's waterways, with two separate boating collisions leaving three people dead. Provincial police reported that an American man died when his boat collided with another vessel on Lake Joseph in the Muskokas. A woman from Richmond Hill was also critically injured in the accident. A separate crash on Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas left a 31 year old man dead and another 31 year old man missing; he was found dead the next day.
The following article contains information taken with permission from the CPS Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC) Boating Basics Course.
One of the primary rules of the road is: To Keep Watch to Avoid Collisions. Keeping a constant watch for others on the water is common sense and the law. If you are sharing water with other vessels that are less maneuverable than you, remember it is harder for them to take avoidance action. This is a good reason to give them lots of room and stay out of their way.
Boating can be fun and safe for the whole family. With basic knowledge and care a boater can avoid trouble instead of trying to get out of it. When operating a boat you are responsible for the safety of the boat, the safety of your guests and any damage caused by your boat or its wake. Others have the right to assume that you know what you are doing.
It is a criminal offence to operate a vessel in a dangerous manner, like waiting until the last minute to avoid a collision and operating a boat at a greater speed than required to maintain steering control. You must also remember that boats, unlike cars, do not have brakes, they steer from the back and not the front and they need minimum power to maintain good steering control. When you stop power from the engine there is minimum steering available from the rudder, the outboard or outdrive and the boat tends to travel forward in almost a straight line making it difficult to avoid a collision with anything near the front of the boat. So, maintain a good distance to allow for any reduced maneuverability. There is seldom an excuse for a collision. It can almost always be avoided by maintaining distance and keeping a good lookout.
To fully understand rules of the road you must also understand the nautical terminology for “left” and “right”. When facing forward in a boat the left side of the boat is the Port side and the right side is Starboard. At night also remember that for the navigational lights the green light is on the right or starboard side of the boat and the red light is on the left or port side of the boat. If you see an approaching boat’s red light it is in your “danger zone”, the zone covered by your green light, and it has the right of way so you must take avoiding action. You should expect that the boat with the right of way, the Stand On Vessel, will maintain its course and speed.
Regardless of who is the Stand On Vessel or the Give Way vessel it is everyone’s responsibility to maintain a watch at all times and take any action to avoid a collision.
Following these simple rules will help ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable boating season.
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Injuries and Fatalities Down in the U.S.
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The US Coast Guard has recently released their Recreational Boating Statistics Report for 2018. Highlights:
- There were 4,145 accidents that involved 633 deaths, 2,511 injuries and approximately $46 million of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents
- The fatality rate was 5.3 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels, a 3.6% decrease from 2017.
- Compared to 2017, the number of accidents decreased 3.4%, the number of deaths decreased 3.8%, and the number of injuries decreased 4.5%.
- Where cause of death was known, 77% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of these, 84% were not wearing a lifejacket
- Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, involving 19% of deaths
- Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, machinery failure, and
- excessive speed rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.
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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.
On May 22 the Government of Canada announced new investments to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and to provide up to 18 new large ships to be built in Canadian shipyards. These new vessels will help the Coast Guard continue to deliver its important services for Canadians.
Irving Shipbuilding will build two new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, which will be adapted for the Coast Guard to perform a range of critical missions, including Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization patrols. Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards will build up to 16 Multi-Purpose Vessels to support a variety of missions, including light icebreaking, environmental response, and offshore search and rescue.
Congratulations to Neil Patchett on his appointment to the position of General Manager, Policy and Advocacy, Australian Boating Industry Association. In his previous roles at Transport New South Wales Neil was a true friend of the CSBC, instrumental in the development and signing of the International Lifejacket Principles Agreement
https://csbc.ca/en/pfd-wear-best-practices/lifejackets
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supporting the CSBC’s involvement in the Marine 13, 15 and 17 boating safety conferences; and contributing to the CSBC Newsletter. Many will remember meeting Neil at the CSBC Symposium 2014 in Ottawa.
CSBC Special Correspondent Peter Hopkins, General Manager – Recreational Boating Safety & Facilities, Marine and Safety Tasmania, reports that there were
no boating fatalities in Tasmania in 2018/2019!
Congratulations to Peter and his team, and to their boating safety partners. To learn more about their approach - including mandatory lifejacket wear – go to
www.mast.tas.gov.au
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Stu Gilfillen was elected as Chair of the U.S. National Safe Boating Council at their General Membership meeting on September 29. The CSBC would like to thank outgoing Chair, Chris Stec, for his collaboration and support. Under a Memorandum of Understanding between the CSBC and the NSBC, the two organizations collaborate in many areas, and Stu will be an ex officio observer on the CSBC Board. We look forward to working with him.
Our condolences to the family and friends of Maurice (Migs) Turner, a long-standing member of the Canadian Coast Guard Pacific Region, who passed away on 5 September 2019.
The search is underway for the 2019 Safe Quiet Lakes – “Share the Lakes” Award.
This award recognizes an individual or organization whose energy and initiatives have resulted in significant, sustainable action that protects and ensures safe, quiet, and respectful boating practices so that current and future generations can continue to enjoy the unique and peaceful environment of the Muskoka Lakes. Go to
http://safequiet.ca/your-role/award/ to learn more.
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