April 2025

CSBC NEWSLETTER APRIL 2025

In this issue

• Message from the Chair
• AGM Notice
• NEW! Mustang Survival Discount for CSBC Members
• CSBC Membership Reminder
• Safe Boating Awareness Week 2025
• CSBC Symposium 2025
• Eyes on the Water
• In Brief 

Message from the Chair

As my term as Chair of the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) comes to a close this May, I find myself reflecting on what an incredible experience these past two years have been. One that has provided me with learning, personal growth, and the opportunity to work alongside some of the most dedicated and passionate individuals in the boating safety community.

I am incredibly proud of the projects that have been accomplished over the past few years. It is truly rewarding to get an inside glimpse of all the hard work of our volunteers paying off. Their dedication and commitment to boating safety have made a real difference, and I am grateful to have been a part of these efforts.

While I look forward to spending more time with my young family, my love for the outdoors and boating remains as strong as ever. My family has always played a significant role in fostering this passion, and I am eager to pass it on to my kids, creating new memories on the water while instilling in them the same respect for safety and adventure that was instilled in me.

Although my time as Chair is coming to an end, I remain deeply committed to the mission of the CSBC, and will continue to be active in our community, as well as serving on the Executive Committee as Past Chair. I look forward to staying involved and to the possibility of serving again in the future.

Safe boating, always!

Mike Dean

AGM Notice to all CSBC Members

In accordance with the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (Section 159.4), the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in-person on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 1:00 P.M at the Courtyard Toronto Airport Hotel, 231 Carlingview Drive, Toronto ON . For those who have attended in the past, this is the same hotel that we used last year. A bus shuttle to the hotel from the Pearson airport is available.

The meeting is open to all interested persons, but voting will be restricted to current CSBC members.

The meeting will cover a number of subjects, including a report on the CSBC's current programs and the election of the Board of Directors and Officers for 2025/2026. Come and spend an hour or so with us to hear about the great progress that we have made in promoting boating safety and to renew acquaintances with others like yourself who support our goals.

Please note this is an in-person event only.



IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN FACILITATING THIS MEETING, PLEASE ADVISE THE CSBC SECRETARY, RON KROEKER, BY EMAIL (rjksec2024@gmail.com) OF YOUR INTENT TO ATTEND, NO LATER THAN MAY 19.

Dated in Ottawa, Ontario, this 12^th day of April, 2025.

Ron Kroeker

CSBC Secretary

NEW!  Mustang Survival Discount for CSBC Members

The CSBC is excited to announce that Mustang Survival, the Presenting Sponsor now of both our annual Symposium and of our CASBA awards, has launched a 40% discount program. All CSBC members are eligible to participate in this program. The 40% discount applies to Mustang Survival recreational gear and will be in effect until December 31, 2025. Further details will be provided to CSBC members directly and in the next short while.

We at the CSBC greatly appreciate this generous initiative by Mustang Survival, our partner and major supporter. 

It’s not to late to renew or take out a new CSBC membership – see below!  

CSBC Membership Reminder

If you have not already done so, please renew your membership now. In January we sent membership renewal notices to all our supporters. A heartfelt thanks to all members who were quick to renew their membership. If you haven't done so, please refer to the CSBC invoice you received, or go to https://csbc.ca/en/about-us/membership, or contact our Executive Support Officer at john.mcmullen@teksavvy.com.

We always welcome both organizational and individual new members! As the boater population continues to grow, the CSBC’s motto – Helping you stay safe on the water - is every bit as important. To become a member, connect with us as outlined above.

Safe Boating Awareness Week May 17 – 23, 2025

The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) is revitalizing and expanding our flagship Safe Boating Awareness Week (SBAW) campaign. SBAW is the cornerstone of boating safety education in Canada, engaging partners across the country. It will run from May 17 - 23 this year, and will be marked by CSBC and partner events across the country.

Supported by Transport Canada’s Boating Safety Contribution Program (BSCP), the revitalization of SBAW, the Building on the Brand project, is a three-year national outreach effort designed to expand educational messaging to a broader nationwide audience while tailoring key safety messages to regional boating communities. This initiative aims to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities among boaters, building on the momentum achieved in previous years. A recent CSBC poll, conducted by Ipsos Reid, confirms the effectiveness of CSBC campaigns in delivering crucial boating safety messages.

The campaign targets key boating segments within the recreational boating community, including new boaters, youth, and boaters in remote or Indigenous communities. It also emphasizes the importance of educating boaters at all experience levels, ensuring that safety messages are accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or level of expertise.

The initiative pays particular attention to activities that carry a higher risk, including small powerboating (boats under 6 metres), paddling (canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding), and boating for hunters and anglers. It also promotes safe boating practices during rough water conditions or high winds - conditions known to increase the risk of accidents on the water.

A central component of the campaign is awareness about personal flotation devices (PFDs), emphasizing their life-saving importance during boating activities. Research consistently shows that wearing a PFD dramatically increases a boater’s chances of survival in the event of a fatal or non-fatal incident.

Safe Boating Awareness Week aims to make a lasting impact on boating safety across Canada by ensuring that boaters of all ages and experience levels are equipped with the knowledge they need to stay safe on the water. By combining a national effort with a localized approach, the CSBC hopes to continue our mission of reducing boating-related accidents and fatalities while fostering a culture of safety that will resonate for years to come.

For more information about SBAW, visit the Canadian Safe Boating Council’s website Safe Boating Awareness Week (csbc.ca) for updates on upcoming events and activities and to access downloadable materials for your campaign.

CSBC Symposium 2025

Eyes on the Water

The Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs) take place every January, and celebrate excellence in boating safety and environmental stewardship. As you’re out on the water this season, keep your eyes open for individuals and organizations who deserve to be nominated for a CASBA award. For more information, please go to Award Categories and Nomination Form.

In Brief

Can’t wait for boating season to begin? Check out the TV Ontario documentary TRIPPING The Muskoka Lakes, showing on TVO on April 20 at 9 pm, or streaming on TVO.org or YouTube. The show takes viewers on a three-hour boat ride along some of the most famous shorelines in Ontario. Visit long-lost resorts, an historic inn, a boat-only church and an eerie shipwreck. This immersive documentary will take you to Ontario’s best known cottage district without ever leaving home!

For water-based explorations further from home, Season 2 of Earth’s Great Rivers, a 3-part series, begins on April 29 at 7 pm. It tells the stories of the winding Danube, the biodiverse Yukon and the Zambezi, home to Victoria Falls. The series also streams on TVO.org and on YouTube.

In March 2025 the Government of Canada announced that it had awarded contracts to build two new polar icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. For more information, go to Construction of new polar icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard - Canada.ca

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