Change for the Better!

Aug 14, 2025

If you are in the marine industry, you may have seen read the announcement in Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest last week that the OP Media Group is acquiring Canadian Boating, Canadian Boating OnBoard, Boating Industry Canada, and the PORTS Cruising Guides. For all the enthusiastic boaters who enjoy our publications, the acquisition, effective September 1, 2025, is a significant step in OP Media Group’s mission to serve the full spectrum of Canada’s recreational and commercial boating community. This strategic acquisition brings together a network of cornerstone brands that have long been trusted resources for boaters, marine professionals, and industry stakeholders.

For our readers especially as well as advertisers, partners and association friends, this is great news. Advancing the interests of businesses in all areas of the marine industry, using both print and digital media platforms is an essential way to reach the biggest available audience. Where many other industries are plagued by audience fragmentation, we can boost boating by having a bigger nation-wide organization with more resources.

We will enjoy a bigger roster of contributors to bring you more variety and more points of view. In this sudden era of threats to Canada’s business environment, we will be better equipped to deliver the national picture. This brings Canada a world-class and scale integrated recreational media entity that rivals anyone anywhere. 

In response to today’s pressures to reorder the global trade relationships, a more unified Canadian perspective will certainly have great value. OnBoard has always carried news from right across the country and beyond – this issue, as an example, has news from Steveston BC, Charlottetown, PEI and from our Canadian Ocean Racing team currently somewhere in the Bay of Biscay. This new alliance will enhance our coverage and bring you

I think the timing for this is ideal and our whole team is excited for the future.

We thank you for your support and please, write me if you want to express an opinion or an idea; johnmorris@kerrwil.com  .

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Boston Whaler 350 Realm

By Andy Adams

You might be dreaming of an adventure boat, or a luxury cruiser, or maybe a serious fishing platform. You might dream of an overnight exploration boat, or a boat that entertains a big group of friends or family. Whatever your ambitions, the features and appointments, and the stellar performance of the Boston Whaler 350 Realm, equipped with triple Mercury Verado V10-cylinder 425 horsepower engines, feels like it could do just about anything. It’s the Great Entertainer.

Read More

Destinations

The Whitsunday Islands

By Mathew Channer

On my first day as a commercially registered yacht captain, I sailed a Fontaine Pajot 38 catamaran from mainland Australia across the Whitsunday Passage to the western shores of the world-famous Whitsunday islands.

We cruised northeast on a 15-knot beam reach… perfect catamaran sailing conditions, watching the hazy shapes of the islands colourize and morph into crescent beaches, jungled ridgelines and rocky outcrops. 

Read More

Lifestyle