TORONTO, Ontario, Canada – NMMA Canada, producer of the Toronto and Vancouver International Boat Shows, as well as the Toronto In-water Boat Show, has been chosen to receive a new Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) award that recognizes those who promote PFD wear in advertising, the council reported in a recent statement.
NMMA Canada was honored with the reward based on its extraordinary effort — in promotions for its three Canadian boat shows, as well as at the shows — to show PFD wear as a natural part of boating, the group stated.
“Consistent messaging on all fronts is the key to making the wearing of PFDs the norm in boating culture,” noted Ted Rankine, CASBA co-founder and emcee of the 8th annual awards presentation, held this year at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto on Sunday night. “Current regulations require that a Canadian Coast Guard or Transport Canada-approved PFD of appropriate size and fit is onboard for each boater, but do not make wearing of PFDs mandatory.”
It was important that NMMA Canada take a leadership role in the recreational boating industry, said Linda Waddell, show manager of the Toronto International Boat Show now running at the National Trade Centre until Jan. 22.
“We’re firm believers in the use of PFDs so we lead by example,” she explained. “We have hundreds of prominently placed signs throughout all of our events that show people enjoying the boating lifestyle wearing PFDs. All of our ticket takers, show greeters and information booth staff wear lifejackets.”
Images of PFD use are also prominently displayed in show guides, advertising and on the website.
“We even insist that children use PFDs while visiting The Lake at the Toronto Boat Show,” added Waddell.
Other CASBA winners included the following:
Recognizing an heroic deed or rescue executed on the water in Canada in 2005, the Canadian Power & Sail Squadron’s Rescue of the Year CASBA went to David Laing, Fay Laing, Wieske van Zoest and Clayton Hickey of sailing vessel the Outrageous, for a rescue in the waters off Nanaimo, BC.
Formula Media Group (Boatguide and Boating Business magazines), Oakville, Ont., received the first ever CASBA for Best Media Contribution to Boating Safety.
Recognizing an outstanding act of boating safety by a marine organization professional, the Marine Professional of the Year CASBA had 2 winners: Peter Garapick, Ontario regional director, boating safety, for Transport Canada; and Robert Minielly, acting staff sergeant of the traffic and marine section, field and traffic support bureau, Ontario Provincial Police.
For consistently practising and promoting safe boating in Canada, Jeff Evans of southwestern Ontario was named Top Volunteer Dedicated to Safe Boating.
CASBAs honouring Best Boating Safety Initiatives conducted in Canada in 2005 went to Sgt. Wayne Atkins, with the 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group based in CFB Borden, Borden, Ont.; and Canadian Coast Guard’s Henry Larsen, a 99.8-metre icebreaker and an Arctic Class 4 vessel operated by 11 officers and 20 crewmembers.
Collins Bay Marina, Kingston, Ont., received the CASBA for Safeguarding the Environment.
Awarded to a company or individual who has introduced to Canada a boating product or technology improving boating safety, Steve Wagner of Salus Marine Wear Inc., Kitchener, Ont., won the Marine Industry CASBA for the Bijoux Baby Flotation Device, which ensures the infant remains face up when in the water.
For demonstrating the best environmental practices, Fifty Point Marina of Winona, Ont., received the Green Marina Environmental Award.
Awarded at the discretion of the CASBA Nominations Review Committee, Special Recognition CASBAs went to Barbara Byers, past-chair of CSBC and public education director of Lifesaving Society — Ontario; and the Town of Little Current/Spider Bay Marina, Little Current, Ont., recognizing the value of preparedness and cool-headed thinking in an emergency situation.
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