April 14, 2026

On Thursday, April 9th, 2026, The Boating Ontario Association announced that CEO Rick Layzell will be stepping down from his role at the end of 2026. Rick will transition out of the position and into semi-retirement as the calendar turns to 2027.
 
During his tenure, Layzell played a key role in strengthening Boating Ontario’s position as a trusted advocate and resource for the province’s marine industry. Under his leadership, the association forged collaborative government relations to address matters such as the COVID crisis, high waters on the great lakes, tariff threats, the luxury tax and more. In that same time frame, Boating Ontario launched the MarineWorx Development Fund, trained over 400 students annually and rebuilt the industry’s leading Environmental Best Practices Program, Clean Marine.
 
“It has been an incredible privilege to work alongside our dedicated staff, supportive Board and passionate membership,” said Layzell. “I am immensely proud of the progress we’ve made in delivering timely & relevant education, meaningful networking opportunities and exceptional member value for Ontario’s recreational marine sector. I have full confidence in the association’s continued success and its critical role in the future of boating in Ontario.”
 
The Board of Directors has engaged the support of an Executive Search firm and is focused on ensuring a seamless leadership transition that maintains the association’s momentum and continued value to its members. If you know someone that may be interested in this incredible opportunity, please have them reach out directly to Kelsey Mayo kelsey@keynotesearch.com  at Keynote Search.
 
In the meantime, Boating Ontario is preparing for the 2nd Annual Meet the Board Mixer event at Huck’s Marine & Resort on July 6th, the August 25th golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Course in Barrie and the Annual Conference in Niagara Falls, November 30 – December 2nd.
 
Boating Ontario remains committed to ensuring that members have a unified voice and access to the tools needed to operate and grow successfully. The association continues to represent a diverse network of businesses that drive local and rural economies, support tourism and keep Ontario’s waterways active and accessible.
 
 www.boatingontario.ca