July 9, 2018

Photo: Freedom Boat Club COO, Barry Slade welcomes new Halifax club owners. From left, FBC Halifax co-owner Jim Stanley, co-owner Sheila Stanley, co-owner Eric Stanley, FBC COO Barry Slade, and Halifax Membership Services Coordinator, Jordan Whitehouse

Freedom Boat Club recently appointed a new franchise owner/operator to serve the Halifax, Nova Scotia market. In addition to being the nation’s oldest and largest boat club, Freedom Boat Club is the exclusive powerboat club franchisor in North America, with 160+ clubs in 31 U.S. states and Canada. The new Halifax club brings the total number of Canadian locations to four, joining two clubs in Vancouver, British Columbia, and a new Toronto, Ontario location opening in July.

Husband and wife team Jim and Sheila Stanley and their son Eric are the co-owners/operators of the Halifax location. The club is located at Kings Wharf, downtown Dartmouth, on the Halifax Harbour, one of eastern North America’s busiest seaports, and a popular boating destination.

Freedom Boat Club Halifax is initially offering four boats in its private club fleet: a 22’ Glastron bowrider, a 22’ Wellcraft Fisherman, a 22’ Glastron deck boat, and a Berkshire pontoon.

The club expects to service members in the Dartmouth and surrounding greater Halifax area. “This affordable club model makes a maintenance-free boating lifestyle available to experienced boaters and newcomers alike. I believe that our unlimited free training, quality new boats, and member access to 160+ clubs in North America will prove very attractive,” said Jim Stanley.

“We are very pleased to welcome the Stanleys to our franchise organization and are especially thrilled to open our first club in Atlantic Canada,” Freedom Boat Club President and CEO John Giglio said. “Strong demand for club expansion from Canadian boaters has led to the launch of the new Halifax and Toronto locations. We have further expansion planned for the near future.”

The Stanleys are experienced power and sail boat enthusiasts and will run the FBC franchise through their boat dealership, Iron Wind Marine.

Prior to launching Freedom Boat Club Halifax, Jim spent his career as a senior executive in the education and public sector, specializing in the economic and business development fields. Sheila is a retired entrepreneur, educator, and senior human resources management executive. Eric has twenty years of owner and senior management experience in the recreational vehicle and large automobile dealership business.

“As a family, we combine nearly 100 years of expertise, experience, and entrepreneurism. We are all really excited about bringing Freedom Boat Club to Halifax and look forward to sharing the boat club lifestyle” said Jim Stanley.

For more information about Freedom Boat Club Halifax, contact Jim Stanley at (902) 225-9556 or jstanley@freedomboatclub.com. The club website is located online at http://freedomboatclub.com/locations/232-halifax-ns/