Honouring Safe Boating Practices in Canada – The 2024 Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs)
Feb 13, 2025
From left to right:
- Brandan Keys and Nadia Wierda – GA Checkpoint Marine – Visible PFD Wear in Advertising
- Brian McShane – Mustang Survival Rescue of the Year
- Barbara Byers – Special Recognition
- Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht – Special Recognition
- Dawson Lucier, Lauren Ardiel, Scott Colman, Jackie Kennedy – CCG Search and Rescue Tobermory – Rescue of the Year – First Responder
- Tracie Berekoff – Top Volunteer Dedicated to Boating Safety
- Joe Gatfield – Special Recognition
- Rick Layzell, Boating Ontario – Best Boating Safety Initiative
- Peter Berry – Marine Professional of the Year
Jan 28, 2025
The 2024 Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs) were held on Sunday, Jan 19th in Toronto, at the National Yacht Club. At this gala event, the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) honoured the people, programs, and organizations 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 this year’s CASBA Awards winners.
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.
Rescue of the Year – First Responder
The Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue 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.
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.
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.
Special Recognition
A Special Recognition CASBA is awarded to Doctor Gordon Giesbrecht, who has travelled the world and has given seminars and presentations on hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold injuries. In 2010, he 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.
Best Boating Safety Initiative
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.
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.
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.
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, and which has been in business since 1974. They promote lifejacket wear in all their advertising and videos about boating safely.
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 our 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.
For further information contact:
Brenda Reeve
CASBA Committee Chair
Canadian Safe Boating Council
casbas.csbc@gmail.com
