North American Safe Boating Awareness Week will take place across Canada from May 18th to May 24th, 2013. The purpose of this initiative is to promote safe and responsible boating practices to the estimated 16 million recreational boaters in Canada while significantly reducing boating-related fatalities.
 
To help increase awareness of Safe Boating Awareness Week, on May 18th, 2013, boating safety educators, marine enforcement officials, politicians, media and the general public in Canada and around the world will gather to beat last year’s World Record Life Jacket event called Ready, Set, Wear It (RSWI).  As well, the Canadian Safe Boating Council and local Police Marine Units in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal will be hosting three launch events for media, public and boating safety educators to increase awareness of the importance of Boating Safety!
 
This year the Safe Boating Awareness Week campaign will deliver five key boating safety-related messages:
– the importance of wearing a life jacket
-the dangers associated with drinking and boating
-the importance of taking a safe boating course
-ensuring that you and your vessel are prepared before casting off
-the risks associated with a fall into cold water

This initiative is promoted by the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC), a registered charity, and its members and partners from all areas of the marine community. It is made possible through support of Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety.  The goal is to ensure that the millions of Canadians who head out on the waters in canoes and kayaks, sailboards and sailboats, fishing boats, personal watercraft, power boats and cruisers are equipped with the knowledge for a safe day on the water.
 
 
Please visit www.smartboater.ca and csbc.ca for further information.