The Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons recently received a prestigious Life Saving Society Award.

Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons is a volunteer-driven national organization with 36,000 members belonging to 162 Squadrons spread from Coast to Coast to Coast. Their emphasis is on safety and accident prevention through education, raising public awareness of boating safety issues and promotion of acquisition and appropriate use of safety equipment.

The education is accomplished through 21 professionally prepared and delivered courses and seminars offered to both members and the public. During the 2010 training year they directly educated 19,000 boaters and/or members of the public.

Their public outreach work includes participation in the Canadian Safe Boating Awareness Week, which includes a wide range of activities also promoting boating safety, the need for education, safe and environmentally friendly boating practices and promotion of lifejacket/pfd wear.

Education, awareness and preparedness recently resulted in four members of CPS being awarded the Canadian Safe Boating Council Award for “Rescue of the Year” from the Canadian Safe Boating Council for a night-time rescue and saving the life of a crewman from a capsized sailing vessel in Lake St Clair, Ontario, in 50+ knot wind gusts and 1 to 2 metre high seas. Education does produce dividends and for that we are thankful for the work of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons.

The award was presented to Chief Commander Malcolm Blann, and District Commander Don Griffiths and District Executive Officer Nancy Gibson of Pacific Mainland District, by B.C. Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC, and Member of B.C. Provincial Legislative Assembly, Burnaby North, Richard Lee.