In the news: C Bay

Poor attitude ?? - because I believe we should be spending our policing dollars fighting Gun Crimes in our cities, instead of spending our policing dollars to ensure outdoorsman are safe and have all of their government documents in order .

As Said - when we only hear of couple of shootings a year in our cities instead of a couple every day - by all means spend as many police dollars as they wish to help outdoorsman be safer.

Yes maybe I have a "poor" attitude because I feel our policing dollars should fight CRIME - FIRST , not second.

As said - being pulled over 30 + times in a year while engaged in Outdoor Recreation by OPP officers , for no reason other than to "check documents" and safety gear, is in my opinion excessive .

I would rather see some "Gang members" in our cities "pulled over " over 30 + times in a year.

Maybe a little different work - checking for pistols, knives, machine guns, drugs, instead of lifejackets, registrations, insurance and licences etc

you have a very good point about the gang bangers in the city. and the judges just keep letting them out.

Just throwing this out there, (quick research, it may not be perfectly accurate)

2024 ON traffic fatalities due to impairment, 47.

2023 drownings in ON, 147
- almost 9/10 not wearing a pfd, 4/10 impaired.

2024 shooting deaths in Toronto, 35.

Should we be fining someone enjoying a beer while cleaning their boat? Certainly no, poor judgement on part of the officer. 37 stops for paperwork? I'd be annoyed too!

I hear your frustration, but pfd and impairment enforcement on and near the water is clearly required, and arguably should be increased vs violent crime units given it affects more citizens and includes more innocent victims (gang violence is usually targeted and the average citizen faces little to no risk outside of wrong place/wrong time incidental shootings).

So from my experience as a guide and fully licensed charter captain on Lake Ontario for 26 years. I can safely say I have pretty much seen it all.


I have been hit over 7 times by impaired vessels while out fishing. I saved 3 young children on one outing when they fell off the back of a sailing vessel and the parents never knew they were gone until 3 hours later when they docked and police and child services were there to greet them

there are more, but I learned early on in my business, say after year 4 to implement a zero alcohol/beer policy as per law which I expressed to every client, whether a repeater or a new one


I got a ton of arguements from quite a few saying. it's okay for us to drink, just not you......answer NO... So after we all agreed, there were a few that still came down at 5 or 6 in the morning and snuck some booze onto the boat and they were easily spotted.......I just refused to leave the dock till they got rid of it or began to justify why they should be able to bring it on board.

my solution was always the same......you have a choice, get rid of it or get off my boat cause we ain't going anywhere and that happened a few times over the years.......so yup I lost a few clients for sure, but guess what..........I didn't want them.......I was tired of the puking, breaking stuff on the boat and seeing drunks driveaway to possibly injure themselves or worse others


In the end I wound up getting a super good client group that went fishing for the enjoyment of fishing.....and everybody was happy

my routine checks from MNRF OPP and coast guard dropped from 3-7 per season to zero cause they just cruised by and saw my boat and waved.... They knew


I was not an angel when I was younger and broke all kinds of rules i am quite sure, but you learn, you grow, you get wiser...I think lol


So for the other guides out there, yep you may lose some, but that's short lived. trust me

Well said as always Shank. Not many of us have the experience you have being out on the water working all those years. Being responsible for other people's lives, charter after charter. Zero tolerance is always the best rule. When I take people fishing even in their own boat, life jackets on and no booze and no drugs. If they can't agree to that, I don't take them fishing.

Yes 147 Drownings in Ontario - 2023

The almost 50%, were drownings while SWIMMING - 63

10% of Drowning were while power boating - 14
7% while fishing - 10
7% canoeing, kayak - 10
12% playing walking near water - 18

Shootings - Gun Crimes in Ontario 2024 - over 60


So yes 34 drownings while boating is too many - perhaps the Mandatory Lifejacket Legislation coming shortly from TC will improve those numbers

And yes - 27 years as a Charter Operator and - Zero tolerance for any alcohol allowed on board - and Mandatory inflatable life jackets at all times for myself and clients.

Still voting to see my tax dollars that are spent on policing to be used for fighting CRIME - at least until it is under some kind of control.

2 more Teenagers shot in Toronto this week - seems our citizens are just numb to it now.

I am not debating you over the violent crime issues........we have gotten soft on repeaters and more resources need to be put into fighting crime.ie shootings

I was just also advocating that recreational water related activities require attention as well and for those of you that have shared their very personal stories, I thank you.......

Exactly, it isn't either/or, both are required.