Jan 2, 2024

Welcome to the first edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest for 2024! We sincerely hope that you had a wonderful holiday season with good times, good friends and a good chance to relax and plan the year ahead.

We also hope you have been able to RSVP to attend the NMMA Canada Industry Breakfast on January 23, 2024 at the Beanfield Centre just across the street from the Toronto International Boat Show. Our main sponsor is again Wells Fargo and they will have economist Nick Bennenbroek on hand with knowledge and market insights to help us plan our business in 2024. Also, a highlight of the morning will be the announcement of the NMMA Hall of Fame recipient. The Hall of Fame honours people who have made a positive contribution to the industry throughout their careers. Many have also been colourful, interesting, and even legendary  people. A great example is Ted Quinn who founded Quinn’s Marina in Pefferlaw, Ontario. Ted passed away recently and we have his obituary in this edition of News Week.

Our Canadian Hall of Fame winners have been people who made important and valuable contributions to the industry and yet, it occurs to me that we rarely stop to look back. There is normally a display of the previous award recipients at the Toronto Boat Show, but as we prepare to start a new season, let’s pause to look back and remember past NMMA Hall of Fame winners.

2022: Tom MacNair
2020: Michael Vollmer
2019: Brock Elliott
2018: Harold Copping
2017: Denys Lapointe
2016: Rick Cassels
2015: Victor Duhamel & Carl Dewar
2014: Gary Poole
2013: Christopher Goulder
2012: Ross Jardine
2010: Ian Bruce & Marcel Dubois
2009: Gerald (Jerry) Huck
2008: Robert Eaton
2007: Bob Paterson
2006: Ed Botterrell
2005: Ted Quinn & Mark Ellis
2004: George Hinterhoeller
2003: Bruce Robertson & Larry Lauzon
2002: Ed Lee & George Cuthbertson
2000: Gordon Blake & Hans Fogh
1999: Lloyd Crate & Karen Larson
1998: Harold D. Shield & W.J (Bill) Robertson

At the NMMA Canada website (https://www.nmma.ca/industry-awards/hall-of-fame-award ) you can find more about some of the recent Hall of Famers.

Are there names you recognize? Maybe even people you remember as a boss, co-worker or a friend? Perhaps your name will be in the Hall of Fame in the future. I have always felt that the boating industry in Canada was a collegial place where we work and earn a living but also, where we meet and make friends because we share in the love of the business and boating. I still feel it’s a land of opportunity if you want to make it that.

Hope I see you at the Industry Breakfast!

Andy Adams – Editor