Aug 29, 2023

For about as long as I can remember, the boating industry has needed more technicians to train and join the business. With the west coast’s balmy weather and basically twelve-month season, it seems that British Columbia has simply been able to attract more young people into the industry yet even there, we see unfilled opportunities. Through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence areas, some of the business has continued to be seasonal and we have had a tough time attracting young people.

Recently, student recruitment efforts have ramped up with in-person high school visits, advertising by the college, the Boating Ontario Marine Worx program and also, our continued editorial support through the Boating Industry Canada Career Profiles. It all seem to be having an effect. Last week I called Rob Davidson, Professor and Program Coordinator, Marine and Small Engine Programs at Georgian College and I was really pleased when Rob said we are in pretty good shape.  

This year, Georgian College has two full sections already registered between the Marine and the Small engine program. At present, Georgian caps their sections at 18 students and Rob said it looks like they already have 20 per section!  

As you are reading this, Orientation is taking place this week and we are off to the races. As Rob explained, they planned for two sections and they got two sections so this is great news.

But at best, this means we will have 40 Georgian Grads looking for boating industry placements in a couple of years. I doubt that this will fill the staff vacancies that are already out there and we are continuing to see senior techs retiring so, whatever we all did to advertise the program this past year, worked. But we need to keep it up.

Rob did many in-person career day visits at high schools across the province, Wendy and Brett Ramsey started another program, doing the same thing. We may be gaining traction but we still need more people from our industry to volunteer a bit of their time promote the career and lifestyle opportunities that boating offers. ‘Something to think about as we head to the closing weeks of summer 2023

Andy Adams – Editor