The famous East Coast weather welcomed delegates to the CSBC Symposium in Halifax on September 20 with rain and blustery winds, but the opening reception at the historic Keith's Brewery set the stage for enthusiastic participation by the Canadian, American, Australian and New Zealand delegates.

We hold the annual Symposium in different parts of the country so that we can learn more about boating in different areas, and offer opportunities for local boating enthusiasts to participate and hopefully become CSBC members or sponsors and join us in our in our efforts to make boating safer and more enjoyable for all.

Following is an outline of the presentations. It is intended to load the presentations on to the CSBC website, which you can check for more information.

Wade Spurrell, Assistant Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Atlantic Region

Rachel Johnson, Executive Director, National Safe Boating Council

Baz Kirk, National Advisor Industry Support, Maritime New Zealand

Dr. Sean Brillant, Canadian Wildlife Fund

Captain Mike Evans, International Racing Skipper, Halifax

Sara Anghel, Executive Director/VP Government Relations, National Marine 

Pat Nelder, Executive Director, Atlantic Marine Trades Association

Maria LaFano, Manager, UL Standards Canada

Andrew Murie, CEO, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada

Dr. Audrey Giles, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa

Insert photo from presentation

Peter Hopkins, Manager, Recreational Boating, Marine and Safety Tasmania, Australia

Michael Drake, Principal Manager of Boating Safety, Maritime Management Centre, 

Barbara Byers, CSBC Director and Public Education Director, Lifesaving Society

Ted Rankine, Playsafe Productions

Dr. Ron Pelot, Dalhousie University

Andrew Lowles, Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries

Rick Nash, New Brunswick Department of Public Safety.

Thanks to Blair Doyle, CSBC Director and Past President of Paddle Canada, and his team, Symposium delegates enjoyed an afternoon on the water in Dartmouth, where they were able to learn about paddling safety and try out various types of paddle craft. Many thanks to Stearns, who not only supplied PFDs for the participants, but generously allowed delegates to take them home.

By the time the conference concluded with the Volunteer Recognition Awards ceremony and closing banquet on September 22, bright fall days had returned, delegates were enthusiastic about the quality of the presentations and discussions and the value of the contacts they had made, and there was just time for a beer or two at the Lower Deck before saying goodbye.

Here are highlights of what Symposium delegates said about this year's event:

(best part of Symposium): "Collective expertise and passionate people", "Opportunity to connect with diversity of boating safety stakeholders and quality and diversity of presentations".

Many thanks to the Symposium Committee, in particular Cynthia Hodgson, Rick Cassels, John Gullick, Sandra Inglis and Blair Doyle, and to the Red Cross, who staffed the registration desk and assisted with IT. Our thanks go as well to the following industry sponsors, whose financial and in-kind support make the Symposium possible:

 

Barbara Byers and John Gullick, CSBC Chair

Jean Murray and John Gullick, CSBC Chair

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 presented by John Gullick, CSBC Chair, at the Symposium in September. Congratulations, and grateful thanks, to the award winners:

 

CSBC Distinguished Service Citation - In recognition of your outstanding and dynamic leadership as CSBC Project Director of the Canadian Safe Boating Campaign Project, and especially the seminal research component

CSBC Distinguished Service Citation - In recognition of four years of outstanding leadership as CSBC Chair, including the initiation of the CSBC Strategic and Business Planning process, securing CSBC Trademarks, and many other "class of her own" accomplishments     

CSBC Certificate of Merit - In recognition of your leadership and business acumen in securing new sponsorship funding,  and your commitment and support in management of the CSBC

CSBC Certificate of Merit - In recognition of three years as the CSBC Symposium Co-Chair and your excellent work in composition and distribution of the CSBC Newsletter

CSBC Certificate of Merit - In recognition of your contribution as the CSBC Treasurer in improving the organization and efficiency of the CSBC's accounting system and enhancing the CSBC's professional credibility 

CSBC Certificate of Merit - In recognition of your significant contribution to recognition and protection of the CSBC's key trademark assets