Apr 24, 2023
Pilot Project Brett RamseyBrett Ramsey speaking to students at Athens District High School

A major point of discussion in the marine industry recently is the issue facing the shortage of the younger demographic in professional roles. There’s a strong need for this issue to be addressed but the question is, where to start?

Wendy and Brett Ramsey have been working in the marine industry for years. They’ve both had key roles at Pirate Cove Marina and RBK Distribution.

About a year ago, they started working on an impactful pilot project that has recently launched this spring. The whole idea around this initiative is to bring more young people into the marine industry. “The initiative all started because I wanted to use co-op money to send people to school,” said Wendy Ramsey. “And then I got frustrated.”

When the covid-19 pandemic emerged, the Ramsey’s faced barrier after barrier trying to use their funds to help individuals go to school due to all the restrictions. After facing so much uncertainty, they took matters into their own hands.  

The Ramsey’s are starting this initiative in four Eastern Ontario high schools. Most students this age are unaware of the opportunities that exist in the marine industry and it’s important for them to be informed. In Ontario by grade 10, students require a general idea of what they want to do when they graduate. The grade 11 and 12 courses that they choose have a big impact.

Not only do the Ramsey’s want to address the need for marine technicians, but also the need for service providers, marketing roles, sales personnel and more. “Any way to bring people into the industry, as long as they land in it,” says Brett Ramsey.

Pilot Project Brett Ramsey

The students were able to observe demonstrations from old marine parts that were brought in for the interactive presentation

April 17th was the kickoff to their pilot project. Athens District High School was the first visit where Brett gave an interactive presentation to students from grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. It was fantastic, and they received lots of questions from the older students while the younger students sat and listened to the session.

They brought in some beat up props, a lower unit gear case and a power head. That way the students were able to see demonstrations and do some hands-on learning to observe the working parts and valves moving.

They did a Q&A with the students near the end of the session and learned that some of them are already doing co-op placements in welding, heavy equipment and in the electrical industry. There are also students that are already on their way to an apprenticeship in welding, carpentry, diesel mechanics and large equipment. But there was no mention of anyone pursuing the marine industry.

It’s extremely important to let these students know that co-op is available in the marine sector as well. As the Ramsey’s take this project to more schools, it’s their goal to entice the students about the marine lifestyle and to convert them over to the marine business.

Following the in-school presentations, the next part of the pilot project will be when the boating season kicks off. The Ramsey’s have been working with Boating Ontario to help interested students get involved with marinas, dealerships or other marine businesses nearby. Through field trips, co-ops and employment positions for the upcoming season, they’re working to get students introduced to these businesses in person.

Athens District Highschool“This spring is the just the pilot. It’ll guide us on what do we need to do to refine it, to make it broader, to make it better,” says Brett Ramsey. The goal is to get this project in high schools across all of Ontario within the next school year starting in September.

The second part and more long-term aspect to this initiative, is to incorporate a Level 1 Marine Technician course in different areas. Making the Level 1 course more accessible to individuals across the province and country is very important so that it’s not limited to one location.  

The Ramsey’s have been working closely with the Ministry of Labour and marine companies such as Mercury and Yamaha to help develop the next stage of this project.

We will be closely following this initiative and will provide updates as the project progresses.

You can read more about Wendy’s career path HERE and Brett’s career path HERE.

  • Prev
The Boating Industry Canada Employer of Choice (BICEOC) Award is the industry's only ...
Our readers will be interested in this sweeping statement of corporate strategy and evolution  ...
Land 'N' Sea invites you to join them to experience North America's largest coast-to-coast ...
Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) proudly announces the launch of the ATA Leadership Academy, an ...
The annual Boating BC Conference is set for November 21 and 22nd with Marina Night on Monday ...
The boating community is gearing up for the return of the iconic Annapolis Powerboat Show to City ...
The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development, is once again launching ...
Let your customers know they can enjoy boating activities all year, and go further and do more with ...
With the end of Summer upon us Quadrant Marine Institute is geared up and ready for our next ...
The Maritime Museum of BC, with support from the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, Mill Bay ...

Corporate Profile - Dometic Outdoor Global Marine Division

Dometic

Dometic Outdoor Global Marine Division is one organization that has set the bar high globally on quality standards in all aspects of its operation. From its human resources practices to its product development and manufacturing standards, the company strives for 110% in all it does. Dometic’s Vancouver, British Columbia design and manufacturing facility is the largest marine focused company in Canada. Its global standards are admirable, and our entire industry can learn from its leadership and positive practices.

In 1962, Dometic (then under the name Teleflex) developed, launched, and marketed a mechanical steering system and with its success came the first hydraulic steering in 1983 and No FeedBack Steering in ’91. 

 
Read More


 

Changing Scene

  • Prev
Brunswick Corporation reported another record-setting display at the 2023 Cannes Yachting ...
Vision Marine Technologies Inc., a global leader and innovator within the performance electric ...
Raymarine, global leaders in high-performance marine electronics for the recreational boating, ...
Okanagan Lake is a picturesque glacial fjord in British Columbia, Canada. It's also home to Mission ...
We are thrilled to announce a remarkable achievement by Vision Marine Technologies at the iconic ...
Mercury Marine today introduced the Avator™ 20e and 35e electric propulsion systems. The new ...
The NMMA announced on August 23, the relocation of its headquarters to Washington D.C. as the ...
The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management (GLAM) Committee is seeking to better ...
This August Craig Scholten, American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) technical vice president, has ...
On August 14, 2023, Yamaha Motor Canada unveiled a new 1.9L High Output Yamaha marine engine for ...

Boating Industry Canada News Week

 

Every Tuesday we publish a fresh Digest with informative articles pertaining to the Canadian boating and marine industry. Stay up to date with the latest products, research and industry developments.

Missed an Issue of Boating Industry Canada News Week? If you're looking for a specific issue, or simply want to catch up on previous issues, check out our Boating Industry Canada News Week Archives.

Not signed up for News Week? Subscribe here

 

 

 

 

 

Launchings

  • Prev
X Shore, the Swedish technology company behind a game-changing generation of fully-electric, ...
Polaris Marine has unveiled two new concept electric pontoons under its Bennington and Godfrey ...
Nuova Jolly has long stood as a vanguard in the maritime industry, carving a unique niche for ...
Highfield Boats, the leading supplier of Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBS) in North America, will ...
With the new Hanse 410, Hanse is now launching the third model in its revolutionary new series, ...
The 10th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) has wrapped up at the Yacht Club de ...
This summer, the world of competitive sailing is set to witness an historic moment as the Dutch ...
Two months ago, Fountaine Pajot organized its Innovation Show in La Rochelle, France. The theme was ...
Wellcraft continues to push the boundaries of Performance Cruisers with the introduction of its ...
Sea Ray is continuing the evolution of its premium SLX Series with the official launch of the SLX ...
 

Electric Boat

The 10th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) has wrapped up at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) and it gives a compelling look at the future of electric boating.

The MEBC was started in 2014 as a competition between university teams who built and raced boats powered only by solar power and batteries. To encourage more participation from institutions that may not have naval architecture or boat construction expertise, the YCM introduced the Energy Class competition. The club supplies the student teams with the same one-design catamaran hull, and each team adds their own cockpit and propulsion system that can be powered by any renewable alternative energy sources, not just solar.

Read More


 

 

Questus Radar Mount

Questus Marine patented, Self-Leveling Radar Mounts automatically keep radar antennas level with the horizon, eliminating target loss.

Regardless of the angle of heel, with a Questus mount, a radar antenna will pick up targets to either side of a vessel, rather than aiming to the sky and water (for planes and fish). The Questus Marine Self-Leveling Radar Mount can be installed in three basic configurations: backstay mount, mast mount or Stern Pole mount.

 

 

 

Read More


 

People

  • Prev
RAILBLAZA Ltd., manufacturer of premium quality, user-friendly electronics, fishing and boating ...
The Board of Directors of The Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame recently announced ...
We learned from the Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 edition of the UK media outlet, Marine Industry News ...
Torqeedo, the global market leader for electric mobility on the water, announced on July 18th, the ...
On July 18th, Brunswick Corporation named Lenn Scholz president, Boston Whaler and Jeromie Johnston ...
Heather Wiczek, MarineMax Nisswa Operations Manager, was recently named to Boating Industry's 2023 ...
The Board of Directors of The Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame have announced that ...
It is with profound sorrow that Furuno USA announces the passing of long-time employee and friend, ...
Making boating safety education more accessible by bringing courses online, growing the ...
Pace Industries, North America’s leading full-service aluminum, zinc and magnesium die casting ...

Torqeedo announces new structure and names business unit management

Matthias Vogel, Fabian Bez, Sven Mostoegl

Left to right: Matthias Vogel, Fabian Bez, Sven Mostoegl

Torqeedo, the global market leader for electric mobility on the water, announced on July 18th, the creation of two dedicated business units and named their managers. Matthias Vogel will lead the Customized Solutions unit, and Sven Mostögl will lead the Branded Retail line.

“The new Customized Solutions business unit will serve our marine industry and commercial maritime clientele with a dedicated team of experts in sales, application engineering, customer service, and after-sales service,“ said Fabian Bez, CEO of Torqeedo GmbH. 

Read More