CSBC Newsletter                       April 2017
Message from the Chair
Now that the boat show season is over and we are all beginning to think about boating activities in 2017 I thought that I would take a minute to just refresh your memory as to who the Canadian Safe Boating Council is and what we do best.
  • We are a registered charitable organization formed in 1991.
  • We led the way to securing Canadian government approval of more 'wearable' personal flotation devices.
  • We are instrumental in promoting more enjoyable recreational boating through safe boating campaigns and activities.
  • We are a Canadian national organization.
  • We have Directors, an Executive Committee and members from coast to coast to coast.
  • We promote safe and responsible recreational boating across Canada through a defined set of common shared messages.
  • We direct boaters to the right information at the right time of year to help them have a safe and enjoyable boating experience
  • We help to connect our considerable resources, expertise and networks with those from other like-minded organizations.
  • We serve as a collective voice consulting with government and other boating safety stakeholders to advocate for changes that will enhance boating safety .
  • We are a recognized voice of the recreational boating industry to government on areas of safety that will affect all related businesses and associations that are part of the recreational boating community.
  • Through the efforts of many organizations, partners and the CSBC, water related fatalities have been reduced by over 35% over the past 15 years, in spite of the increase in boating activities.
Here is the estimated real dollar value of our 2015/16 Safe Boating Campaign on a Province by Province basis. The first numbers are the estimated real dollar value and the second column is what was actually paid for that value:
  • Quebec: $ 18,557,175  / $ 56,100
  • Manitoba: $ 12,080,751  / $ 34,700
  • British Columbia: $ 9,355,559  / $ 26,500
  • Alberta: $ 13,962,010  / $ 86,900
  • Newfoundland: $ 256,045 / $ 11,600
  • Nova Scotia: $ 3,160,113  /$ 7,000
  • Ontario: $ 41,054,086 / $ 230,300
  • Prince Edward Island: $ 742,624 / $ 12,700
  • New Brunswick: $ 6,071,044  / $ 27,700
  • Saskatchewan: $ 2,697,698  / $ 5600
  • Total of: $ 107,937,105 / $ 499,100 
In short the campaign benefited from a cash input and an in-kind that represented 17 times of what was paid for promotion.

My sincere thanks and congratulations go out to all our members, volunteers and partners.

When you stop to think about this and all of the rest of our annual activities it is more than impressive. We do make a real difference every day by making boating safer and more enjoyable.

Together we are the best,

John Gullick

Great New CSBC Membership Benefit!

The Canadian Safe Boating Council is excited to announce a new membership benefit in partnership with Coleman Canada to help increase lifejacket wear across Canada. Stearns/Coleman Canada will offer to 2017 CSBC members a 30% DISCOUNT on all online purchases through any Coleman Canada website.  This discount applies to the full line of Coleman Canada products - including Stearns PFDs, tents, sleeping bags, coolers and all sorts of outdoor camping gear, and Sevylor inflatables.

NOTE: The promotional code will only be released when your 2017 membership is renewed.

Organizational members will be able to provide that promotional code to their respective members. Individual CSBC members will receive their code directly from the CSBC.

Help us to promote safe and enjoyable boating - together, we're making a difference! Go to www.csbc.ca to renew your membership, or to become a member. 
Canadian Safe Boating Campaign 2017   

This boating season, the CSBC will be undertaking 5 major boating safety outreach campaigns.

The season kicks off early in May, featuring Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, (aka Professor Popsicle) working to make Canadians more aware of the risks of cold water immersion with the ultimate goal to increase lifejacket wear.  Safe Boating Awareness Week, a CSBC mainstay, will be celebrated with launches in major Canadian cities, including Vancouver with 'Ready Set Wear It', Winnipeg and Toronto. Those who enjoy fishing will benefit from the messages provided by the CSBC's Hooked on Lifejackets Campaign in early July. Additional boating safety campaign events, Operation Dry Water and Stretching the Season, will follow later in the summer.
Coming Soon: SmartBoater Mobile Site and E-boatnotes APP  

Just in time to kick of the unofficial start of boating in late May, the CSBC will be launching two new products to promote boating safety.  The first will make the CSBC's SmartBoater.ca website more accessible to all by making it 'mobile enabled'. Reformatted to mobile device standards, SmartBoater.ca will soon be able to be accessed on mobile phones and other hand-held devices like I-Pads.

And for those who prefer to take boating safety with them, the CSBC's new boating safety APP will be introduced to provide key boating safety information right at a boater's fingertips. Information will include required safety equipment (including usage and storage tips), customized to individual boats, rules of the road, aids to navigation, and much more. Watch for our launch of this exciting new APP in late May!
Safety First Marine   

Recent statistics from the Recreational Vessel Courtesy Check program revealed that approximately 40 % of the boats on the water did not have all their legally required safety equipment.  Safety First Marine, a new CSBC initiative supported by the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund, will be working to help change that. 

Those who work in retail marine establishments: marinas, chandleries and boating departments of larger stores, can be front-line ambassadors of boating safety.  They are perfectly positioned to make sure their customers can make informed decisions about equipment they need to be safe, legal and have fun on the water. 

Safety First Marine is an interactive, online instructional program for marine salespeople.  It will provide them with information on boating safety equipment and 'good to have aboard' gear. But it is more than just equipment.  Safety First Marine will also offer tips on storage, maintenance and use, and information and downloadable handouts on other important issues related to boating safety.

Once a marine salesperson has completed this free online program, they will be qualified as a CSBC Safety First Marine specialist and be better prepared to help their customers be safer and have more fun on the water.
Cold Water Workshops 2017   

The CSBC is planning three 2-day Cold Water (Rescue) Instructors' Workshops during 2017:
  • Greater Halifax Area, NS - April 1-2 -  Search and Rescue Headquarters, Lakeview NS
  • Quebec City, QC- September 15 -16 - location TBD
  • Winnipeg, MB - October 13 - 14 - location being finalized.
Each of these workshops will be facilitated by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, world renowned Professor of Thermophysiology at the University of Manitoba.

These workshops provide great insights into how our bodies react to cold stimulus. They dispel myths on how quickly our bodies become hypothermic. They also provide critical information on how to assist potentially hypothermic victims that first responders and those who spend a lot of time around the water need to know. The information provided through the workshops is accomplished through both classroom and real world dockside sessions. Specific modules include:
  • Mechanisms of Heat Loss
  • Phases of Cold Water Immersion
  • Thermal Protection Realities
  • Victim Extraction Techniques
  • Triage of the Hypothermic Victim
  • Re-warming
  • Packaging of the Victim for Transport
  • More.
 
Sessions are $400. For additional information and/or to register, please contact Ian Gilson at   igilson@rogers.com.
U.S. National Transportation Safety Board Report on Shared Waterways
Thanks to Ron Kroeker, CSBC Director, for this report.
 
On February 9, 2017 the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a report entitled " Shared Waterways: Safety of Recreational and Commercial Vessels in the Marine Transportation System". The report identifies the primary risks associated with the shared use of America's marine transportation system by recreational and commercial vessels.

The growth of both commercial and recreational vessel traffic during the last several decades is identified as a significant risk factor, particularly among recreational users. To cite one specific: the number of canoers, kayakers, and standup paddleboarders increased by nearly 22 percent between 2008 and 2014.  The diversity of waterway users and major differences in the experience, navigational knowledge, and boat-handling skills between the two groups are seen to be greatly exacerbating the safety risk.

The NTSB concludes that all recreational vessel operators need to attain a minimum level of boating safety education in order to mitigate risk. In addition, the NTSB believes the U.S. Coast Guard should require recreational boaters on U.S. navigable waterways to demonstrate satisfactory completion of an instructional course meeting the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), or equivalent standards.

NTSB Chair Christopher Hart is quoted in the report: "Just as operators of motor vehicles upon our nation's roadways are required to demonstrate a standard of understanding of the rules of the road in order to make roadways safer for all vehicles, large and small, so too must operators of recreational vessels understand and practice the rules of the road upon our nation's maritime transportation system to make waterways safer for all vessels, large and small".

The NTSB has issued three safety recommendations, to the US Coast Guard, NASBLA and the National Water Safety Congress. All address the need to identify and mitigate risks associated with shared waterways, and to make changes to  training and education requirements for recreational vessel operators.

To read or download "Shared Waterways: Safety of Recreational and Commercial Vessels in the Marine Transportation System" visit http://go.usa.gov/x9Mpc.
Keep Your Eyes Open for This Year's CASBA Nominees

As you're out and about on the water this season, keep your eyes open for those potential Canadian Safe Boating Award winners and get your nominations in early and often. Nominations close in the late fall, and the awards ceremony will be held in Toronto on January 14, 2018. Click here to learn more. 
Join us for the 2017 CSBC Symposium in Quebec City

In 2017, the CSBC returns to one of our favourite Symposium locations - Quebec City. Mark your calendars for September 17 - 19, and plan to join us! The Symposium will be held at the Palace Royal Hotel, just steps from Vieux Québec, and we are working hard to develop an exciting program for you.
 
Please be sure to book your hotel reservations NO LATER THAN JULY 31ST. 2017 . Reservations must be made by contacting the Hotel directly at: 1-800-567-5276. Reference "Group #4007297". Conference identified as "CSBC Symposium Group". All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card.

Symposium Room Rates are: Single or Shared Occupancy $159/night (plus taxes).  To book online in English click here. To book online in French click here. 
 
To register for the Symposium,  click here.
AGM Reminder Notice to all CSBC Members 

The Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Safe Boating Council will take place on May 25, 2017 at 1300, at the Courtyard Toronto Airport Hotel, 231 Carlingview Drive, Toronto. It is open to all CSBC members. The meeting will cover a number of subjects including a report on activities accomplished in 2016 and the election of officers.  Come and spend an hour or so to learn of the great progress we have made in promoting safe boating and renew acquaintances with others like yourself who support our goals.
In brief

Jody Thomas, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, has been appointed to the position of Senior Associate Deputy Minister at the Department of National Defence. Jeffery Hutchinson, formerly Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Shipbuilding, has been appointed as Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard. Both appointments are effective March 13, 2017.

Congratulations to Major Richard Moore on his retirement after 27 years of service with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Richard will continue to serve as Chair of the National Safe Boating Council and an ex-officio observer on the CSBC Board.

Transport for New South Wales has released its Boating Incidents in NSW  statistical report for the 10 year period ended 30 June 2016. Click here to learn more.
 



Belated thanks to Ontario Power Generation, who sponsored the Ontario Power Generation Best Boating Safety Initiative at the CASBAs last January. OPG has been a loyal supporter of the Canadian Safe Boating Council for many years, and we appreciate it.