CSBC NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2025 | |
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In this issue
- Message from the Chair
- Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs)
- Last Call: Virtual Cold Water Workshop
- Time to Renew your Membership – and your Support!
- The Shock Factor: Project Report
- Symposium 2025: Kingston, Ontario
- In Brief
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As we look back on the past year, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible progress we've made in promoting safe and responsible boating across Canada.
The year ahead promises to be just as exciting. Our first Board meeting of 2025 was a resounding success, filled with meaningful discussions and forward-thinking ideas. It’s clear that our collective vision for the future of safe boating is stronger than ever, and I am confident that the initiatives we’ve set in motion will further our impact in significant ways.
January also saw the Canadian Safe Boating Awards. These awards have become a cornerstone of recognition within our community, shining a spotlight on individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to safety and environmental stewardship.
To our winners and nominees: congratulations on your well-deserved recognition. Your passion and unwavering commitment inspire us all and reinforce the importance of our shared mission.
This winter, as the boating season takes a pause, I encourage everyone to use this time to prepare for the adventures ahead. It’s the perfect opportunity to take a boating safety course, review your emergency preparedness plan, and ensure your equipment is in top condition. Safe boating begins before you even step on the water, and these small steps can make all the difference.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Here’s to another year of progress, collaboration, and success!
All the best,
Mike Dean
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Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs)
With thanks to Andy Adams for his excellent photos.
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The 2024 Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs) were held on Sunday, January 19 at the National Yacht Club in Toronto. At this gala event the Canadian Safe Boating Council, its members and stakeholders in recreational boating safety assembled to honour the people, programs, organizations and marinas that help to make boating in Canada safer and better for all of us, and to keep the environment clean.
The CSBC is proud to announce the following winners of this year’s CASBA Awards:
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Mustang Survival Rescue of the Year
Mustang Survival Rescue of the Year is awarded to Brian McShane, who rescued seven people on 17 August 2024. Four adults, two children, and one 8-week-old infant were on Great Slave Lake, NWT, in a 16-foot capsized vessel when Mr. McShane rescued them from the water and transported them in his boat to shore, where they waited for emergency responders.
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Rescue of the Year – First Responder
The Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue unit from Tobermory, Ontario, is awarded the Rescue of the Year—First Responder award. On 13 October 2024, four people fell into the water when their canoe and kayak overturned several hundred meters from shore near Dorcas Bay, Lake Huron. The SAR team faced high winds and rough seas but completed the difficult task of rescuing the individuals and providing first aid before they were transferred to the hospital.
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Best Boating Safety Initiative
The Boating Ontario Association is awarded the Best Boating Safety Initiative award for its Safety is Simple program. This program promotes a safe and fun day on the water by providing safety tips and guidelines, including videos on boating safely at night, launching and docking a boat, not drinking or doing drugs while boating, and wearing a properly fitted life jacket.
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Top Volunteer Dedicated to Safe Boating
The Top Volunteer of the Year is awarded to Tracie Berekoff, from Windsor, Ontario, who has been a proud Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons member for almost 30 years. Tracie has spent the last 29 years focused on Boating Education and in particular, Youth Education in the organization. Her other passion is the Recreational Vessel Courtesy Check Program, which ensures boaters are heading safely out onto the water.
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Marine Professional of the Year
The Marine Professional of the Year award is given to Peter Berry, Harbour Master and Chief Operations Officer, Windsor, Ontario. With 44 years of experience, Peter has mentored countless individuals within the marine sector, fostering a culture of collaboration, safety, and integrity. His influence is felt not only in boardrooms and regulatory bodies but also among the mariners who benefit from the protections and advancements he has championed.
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Visible PFD/Lifejacket Wear in Advertising
The Visible PFD/Lifejacket Wear in Advertising is awarded to GA Checkpoint, Vancouver’s largest Yamaha powersports and marine products dealer, which has been in business since 1974. They promote lifejacket wear in all their advertising and videos about boating safely.
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Special Recognition
A Special Recognition CASBA is awarded to Joseph Gatfield in recognition of continuing a lifelong passion for boating safety education to the recreational boating community and years of dedication to the Canadian Safe Boating Council, Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, the Canadian Power Squadrons Foundation and the Windsor Yacht Club.
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Special Recognition
Barbara Byers, who joined the Canadian Safe Boating Council as a director in 1999, received a Special Recognition CASBA award. Her collaborative leadership style is directly linked to the success of the CSBC and its many research initiatives and safety campaigns.
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Special Recognition
A Special Recognition CASBA is awarded to Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, who has travelled the world and has given seminars and presentations on hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold injuries. Since 2010 he has partnered with the Canadian Safe Boating Council to deliver Cold Water Workshops and has trained over 1200 individuals on the dangers of cold-water immersion.
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The CASBA Gala recognizes the efforts of the public, volunteers, professionals, agencies and organizations who have distinguished themselves in boating safety and environmental stewardship. Each CASBA event has shared amazing stories of bravery, innovation, passion and dedication.
The CSBC would like to thank Presenting Sponsor Mustang and our other sponsors, without whom the CASBAs would not be possible:
- Presenting Sponsor: Mustang Survival
- Gold Sponsor: The Cook-Rees Memorial Fund
- Silver Sponsor: Ontario Power Generation
- Silver Sponsor: Maple Leaf Marinas
- Silver Sponsor: MD Marine Insurance
- Silver Sponsor: Salus
For additional information on the 2024 CASBAs winners, future events and boating safety information, please visit www.csbc.ca.
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CSBC Volunteer Recognition Awards
Mike Dean, CSBC Chair and Peter Heard, Chair of the Volunteer Recognition Committee, took the opportunity of the CASBA gathering to present the following Volunteer Recognition Awards in person:
CSBC Distinguished Service Citation 2023
Ted Rankine
In recognition of your many years of outstanding volunteer service to the CSBC, which has been the catalyst that has made everything else possible.
CSBC Certificate of Merit 2024
Angela Dunn
In recognition of your years of volunteer service in the creation of the Canadian Safe Boating Awards multimedia presentations.
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Last Call: Winter Cold Water Workshops | |
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The last of this winter’s Virtual Cold Water Workshops is coming up from 8:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday March 18 and Thursday March 20. Learn from renowned cold water and thermophysiology expert Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht how cold water immersion affects the body and what to do if you or someone else falls into the water. Register at Cold Water Workshops (csbc.ca)
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Time to Renew your Membership – and your Support! | |
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Our mission is to promote safe and responsible recreational boating throughout Canada. We know we are making a difference, and that’s because of your support. The number of boaters continues to grow. So has the need for the highly-regarded programs provided by the CSBC – such as Better Boater, STARTboating, Rental Boat Safety, Safe Boating Awareness Week, Cold Water Awareness and more (www.csbc.ca). But these programs are only possible with your support.
Having now caught our breath after the Toronto International Boat Show and a busy January, we have just recently sent out 2025 membership reminders and invoices.
Your support of the CSBC and all that it does is very much appreciated. We couldn't do it without you. Not just the fees but the other valuable in-kind support that many of you provide.
The invoice identifies payment options although eTransfer is much preferred.
Not yet a member and interested in coming on board? Go to https://csbc.ca/en/about-us/membership or contact our Executive Support Officer, John McMullen for information john.mcmullen@teksavvy.com
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The Shock Factor: Project Report | |
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Over the years, the Canadian Safe Boating Council has led the charge in educating boaters on the dangers of cold-water immersion. Despite these efforts, drowning incidents still occur, even in warmer waters, with boaters—regardless of swimming ability—losing their lives after falling overboard. To address this ongoing issue, The Shock Factor was launched as a three-year national campaign aimed at reducing drowning incidents and improving Search and Rescue (SAR) outcomes by revealing how vulnerable boaters are to drowning during accidental immersion.
The Premise Behind the Shock Factor
The primary goal of The Shock Factor was to challenge misconceptions about lifejacket use. Many boaters excuse not wearing a lifejacket, citing reasons like confidence, swimming ability, or perceived water warmth. Through real-life simulations, the campaign worked to dispel these myths by exposing the dangers of the “shock factor”—the body’s physiological reaction to sudden immersion. Dr. Giesbrecht, a renowned expert in cold water physiology, played a pivotal role in the research behind the campaign. His contributions were key in designing the experiences and analyzing the physiological data, shedding light on the real risk boaters face when they fall overboard unexpectedly.
Key Findings from The Shock Factor
In early 2023, volunteers participated in Shock Factor experiences to simulate unexpected immersion. Participants wore specially designed shirts that tracked physiological responses, such as heart rate, respiration, and air intake. These experiences vividly demonstrated the involuntary “GASP” reflex—a reflexive inhalation caused by sudden immersion—that can be deadly, regardless of water temperature.
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Physiological Data Highlights
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In virtual reality (VR) scenarios with stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and fishing boats, participants’ tidal volume (air intake) increased by an average of four times normal levels.
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During dunk tank simulations, the increase was even greater—an average of 6.5 times.
- These findings confirmed that unexpected immersion triggers an automatic gasp reflex, often leading to the inhalation of water if the head is submerged.
This physiological reaction significantly heightens the risk of drowning, regardless of water conditions or swimming ability.
What We Learned
The Shock Factor’s research underscores one vital truth: the gasp reflex can be life-threatening in unexpected immersion scenarios. Even experienced boaters and confident swimmers are at risk, as the body’s reaction is beyond conscious control.
By collecting data through participant experiences, the campaign demonstrated the dangers of accidental immersion in a compelling way. For example:
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The danger is immediate. The physiological response occurs within seconds of falling into the water.
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The risk is universal. Warm or cold water, experienced or novice boater—the gasp reflex does not discriminate.
The Message: Always Wear a Lifejacket
The CSBC has made our message clear: a lifejacket is the best defence against drowning. Whether on a stand-up paddleboard or a fishing boat, lifejackets save lives by keeping boaters afloat and reducing the risk of water inhalation during those critical first moments after immersion.
Sharing the Message
To reach as many boaters as possible, the CSBC has shared compelling content from the Shock Factor experiences on social media, showing real-life reactions to accidental immersion. These efforts aim to foster a culture of lifejacket wear—one that can prevent tragedies and save lives on the water.
For more information about The Shock Factor, including volunteer footage and resources on lifejacket safety, visit www.shockfactor.ca For more information on the project findings, go to: https://shockfactor.ca/research/
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Mystery man : who was subject 32 in the Shock Factor research, and what is his connection with the CSBC? Answer at the end of In Brief section. | |
Symposium 2025: Kingston, Ontario | |
The Canadian Safe Boating Council was on hand at the Toronto International Boat Show in January to present key safety messages and discuss boating safety with those who dropped by. Thanks to CSBC Directors Michelle McShane and Lili Colby, pictured below, and other CSBC Directors and volunteers who represented us so well. Many thanks as well to the Ontario Provincial Police for their support. | |
The Mystery Man is Sgt. Dave Moffatt, OPP Marine Unit. He is a member of the CSBC Board of Directors, and incoming Chair of the CASBAs Committee. Thank you for all you do for the CSBC, Dave! | | | | |
