The 2nd PINK Boat Tour came full circle in North Bay on October 5th, when the winners were selected at the annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure North Bay. Janice Heidman of Parry Sound is now the owner of a Pink Naden, one of only two ever made. Heidman takes the helm of a 14-foot Pink Naden Fisherman aluminium boat package that includes a 15-hp Tohatsu motor, Yacht Club Trailer and a safety and mooring package. 

Janet Murray-Ramsay of North Bay won 2nd prize, a two night stay for four people on Mosquito Lake, donated by Wishin’ you were Fishin’ and Lakeland Airways. The 3rd place winner, Darlene Webber purchased her lucky ticket from Mountain Trout House Marina in Dorset, ON. Webber won four tickets to the 2014 Toronto Boat Show and two nights at The Westin Harbour Castle.

Heidman purchased her winning ticket from Wright’s Marina in Britt, ON. Owners, Karrie and Graham Lacey, pictured here with Heidman (on the left) have offered to provide winter storage for the Pink Naden. 

“I’m very excited to have won The Pink Boat and so pleased to have been able to support the CIBC Run for the Cure” stated Heidman. “I am fortunate to live in the beautiful Georgian Bay area and along with my family enjoy getting out on the water every chance we can.”

Heidman’s three sons and partner are also glad that she won. “They are anxious to take the Pink boat out in search of some great fishing holes. I may have a hard time getting a turn” laughed Heidman. The 2nd PINK Boat Tour started the first summer long weekend in the Callandar July 1st parade and ended at the North Bay CIBC Run for the Cure on October 5th. A 90 day tour with the support of eight Naden dealers (Harpers Marina & Dock Shop in Callander; Desmasdons Boatworks in Pointe au Baril; Marine Tech Plus in Noel; Mountain Trout House in Dorset; Temagami Marine in Temagami; Mariner’s Cove Marina in MacTier, Hamer Bay Marina in MacTier and Wright’s Marina in Britt) the tour raised over $23,000, an increase over last year.  

Members of the Canadian recreational marine industry also stepped forward to support the tour including: Tohatsu Outboards, BW Marine Products, Hub International, Toronto Boat Show, and DiscoverBoating.ca. This year local sponsors were involved including Wishin’ You were Fishin’, Lakeland Airways, and the Rotary Club of North Bay. The Pink Boat Tours (2013, 2014) were the idea of the late Andre Lamothe, then president of Naden Boats. Sadly, Andre died in September, 2014 in a car accident and didn’t see the completion of the second tour. Under Andre’s leadership, the tours together raised over $42,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. 

Both Pink Nadens were built in the Temagami plant. Naden boats are are not painted in the traditional sense but individually powder-coated using an electrostatic process. The end result is a coating the gives a longer lasting colour and greater resistance to scratching. 

Because each boat was individually coated, Andre was able to easily paint a pink boat. In part a marketing venture to showcase Naden’s proprietary and environmentally friendly power-coating process, Andre quickly adopted the Pink Boat Tour as his charity of choice and Naden’s corporate responsibility to the community and CBCF. 

Andre, who received the 2013 Corporate Spirit Award from CBCF, worked closely with North Bay CIBC Run for the Cure co-chairs, Melanie Gainforth and Anne-Marie Desjardins. In an online tribute Desjardins said: “Andre’s was just as determined to make the PINK BOAT TOUR 2014 just as successful as last year. Thank you Andre. 

Thank you for your kindness, generosity and friendship. We will never forget you and we are dedicating this year’s CIBC RUN FOR THE CURE in North Bay to you! “ The Naden plant has temporarily ceased production, but it is anticipated that a new buyer will be found to continue the boat line.