Feb 5, 2019

The 2018 Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs) were held Sunday, January 20th in Toronto, at the Westin Harbour Castle. At this gala event, the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC), its members and stakeholders in recreational boating safety assembled to honour the people, programs, organizations and marinas 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 the following winners of this year’s 9 CASBA Awards.  
 
Marine Professional of the Year
Nautisme Québec – Selected for a wide variety of projects benefitting the marine industry and boaters in the Province of Quebec  
 
Top Volunteer Dedicated to Safe Boating
Dave Bieman – honoured for his volunteer work with CPS-ECP at the squadron, district and national level for over 20 years
 
Safeguarding the Environment
Jennifer Pate – Awarded for her work and outreach about preserving the world’s waters through documentary production (making the unseen seen) research and public awareness on micro plastics, and founding the world’s largest simultaneous sampling for micro plastics in ‘Love your Greats’
 
Marine Industry
Fell Marine – recognized for their Wireless Man Overboard System- The MOB PLUS
 
Stearns Rescue of the Year
Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit 14.  Selected for their incredible rescue of 2 people in the St. Lawrence River (near Rimouski PQ) in extreme conditions including storm winds of 40 knots gusting to 50 knots. The crew members recognized were:
John (Ted)Savage
Philippe Charbonneau 
Johnatan Brunet
François-Xavier Bérubé-Dufour
 
Best Boating Safety Initiative
Kids Don’t Float – Honoured the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue program for their lifejacket loaner program in British Columbia, ‘Kids Don’t Float’
 
Visible PFD Wear in Advertising
CIBC Aventura – awarded for their credit card advertisement ‘normalizing lifejacket wear’ through featuring their familiar penguins wearing lifejackets onboard a boat.
 
Best Media Contribution to Boating Safety
Blue Ant Media – Recognized for their in-kind contribution as part of a campaign created in partnership with Paddle Canada called “Safety Never Gets Old”
 
Special Recognition
Group of 14 OPP officers – Honoured for their rescue of 18 youth from frigid Lake Simcoe waters on May 4th, in a storm that generated 100 km winds and generated 8-foot waves.  OPP officers included:
Sgt. Walter Baumann
Sgt. Andrew Kinapen
Sgt. Thomas Laing
Sgt. Scott Ross
Const. Amanda Belanger 
Const. David Boyd
Const. Matthew Ellwood
Const. Grant Geldenhuys
Const. Matthew Gontier
Const. Ian Hester
Const. Marcus Lee                                   
Const. Andrew MacDonald
Const. Scott Williams
Joanne Swain –Communications Operator
 
The CASBA Gala recognizes the efforts of the public, volunteers, professionals, agencies and organizations who have distinguished themselves in the fields of boating safety and environmental stewardship. Each CASBA event has shared amazing stories of bravery, innovation, passion and dedication.
 
For additional information on the 2018 CASBAs winners, future events and boating safety information, please visit www.csbc.ca.