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.
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Services in Atlantic Region
Wade Spurrell, Assistant Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Atlantic Region
Boating Safety Developments in the United States
Rachel Johnson, Executive Director, National Safe Boating Council
Safe Recreational Boating in New Zealand
Baz Kirk, National Advisor Industry Support, Maritime New Zealand
Marine Animal Rescue Program
Dr. Sean Brillant, Canadian Wildlife Fund
Ocean Racing: East Coast Experience
Captain Mike Evans, International Racing Skipper, Halifax
Living on the Edge: 25 Years of the Sydney-Hobart Race
Peter Hopkins, Manager, Recreational Boating, Marine and Safety Tasmania, Australia
Industry Outreach
Sara Anghel, Executive Director/VP Government Relations, National Marine
Manufacturers' Association
Pat Nelder, Executive Director, Atlantic Marine Trades Association
Lifejacket Harmonization Standards and New Labelling
Maria LaFano, Manager, UL Standards Canada
Alcohol and Boating
Andrew Murie, CEO, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada
Boating Safety in the Northwest Territories
Dr. Audrey Giles, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa
Insert photo from presentation
Boating Safety in Tasmania
Peter Hopkins, Manager, Recreational Boating, Marine and Safety Tasmania, Australia
Boating Safety in New South Wales
Michael Drake, Principal Manager of Boating Safety, Maritime Management Centre,
Transport for New South Wales, Australia
Canadian Safe Boating Campaign Research: Making the Results Matter
Barbara Byers, CSBC Director and Public Education Director, Lifesaving Society
Ted Rankine, Playsafe Productions
Boating Safety for Anglers and Hunters
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:
"I've never spoken to such an engaged audience who are so passionate about boating safety" (international speaker)
"Good range of topics, very knowledgeable and engaged speakers"
"My expectations were exceeded because of the people and the diversity and depth of knowledge, friendship and willingness to share"
"Good gathering, excellent presentations"
"Speakers almost uniformly terrific. Engagement very high. Great symposium overall. Real sense of teamwork and learning"
(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:
For next year's Symposium, we're going north! Plan to join us next year from September 22-24, 2016 in Yellowknife, NWT. Details including the agenda will be posted at www.csbc.ca soon.