Toronto show draws boaters, despite the weather

By Rear Commodore David Spencer and Retired Port Captain Cynthia Sunstrum

If you are running a major, nine-day event like the Toronto International Boat Show in January where you count on thousands of attendees traveling long distances, you have to plan on the weather adversely affecting attendance for a day or two. But wow, even the most pessimistic prognosticator wouldn’t anticipate four bad weather days over the nine-day show.  

Attendance was down somewhat due to extreme cold and heavy snowfall to the north of Toronto midweek. And then the city itself got walloped on the closing weekend with a record snowfall of 56 cm (22 inches) recorded at Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto on Sunday, Jan. 25.  

Despite the bad weather, the atmosphere was warm and inviting in the huge Enercare Centre where more than 500 exhibitors welcomed the enthusiastic crowds.     

The GLCC has been a fixture at the Toronto International Boat Show for many years. Our exhibit, new in 2023, features a huge chart showing all the Great Lakes. It proved to be an attraction, drawing visitors in to point out where they have cruised and where they dream of cruising. Our friendly volunteers had fun chatting with visitors about their cruising plans and how the GLCC could enhance their enjoyment of the Great Lakes.  

There is no way we could be at the Toronto International Boat Show without a small army (or should it be navy?) of volunteers needed to staff the Club booth.  

Volunteers deserving a thank-you:

Donna Mallonee; Midland, MI

Barabara and Nicholas Sylvestre-Williams; Toronto, ON

Susan Reid and Andrew Mizzen; Toronto, ON

Susan and Don Knap; Stoney Creek, ON

Johanne Fortier and Guy Lazure; Kitchener, ON

Bill and Helen Ayre; Dundas, ON

Nigel and Eileen Banks; Toronto, ON

Charlie Ellins; Severn, ON

Robert Wightman; Brampton, ON

Dee McClure; Suttons Bay, MI (Dee wins the prize for traveling the farthest to staff our booth – 740km!)

Mary and Wes Micket; Penfield (near Rochester) NY

Greta Cusworth and Jay Gandy; Toronto, ON

Eric and Cynthia Sunstrum; Navan (near Ottawa) ON

Ronan Oliver; Leamington, ON

George and Mary Thor; Pittsford (near Rochester), NY

Kathy and David Spencer; London, ON

Alasdair Fenton; Toronto, ON 

Alasdair wins the prize for travelling the shortest distance. His home is just across the street from the show. He walked in a blizzard on the last day of the show to staff our booth and help take it down after the show.

In addition to our booth at the show, the GLCC was the single largest contributor to the popular TIBS Seminar Series. Six Club members presented 14 seminars, at least one every day of the show.

Honorary GLCC member and perennial boat show favourite Port Captain Roy Eaton kicked off the show with Summer in Paradise: The Fabled North Channel.  Cam and Heather Stevens talked about Your Great Loop: Planning the Adventure of a Lifetime followed by Port Captain Mark Gagyi whose enthusiastic presentation of Lake Erie: Our Great Lakes’ Southern Gem was well received. Rear Commodore Eric Sunstrum delivered his seminar on Cruising the Bay of Quinte and the Thousand Islands. And finally, Rear Commodore David Spencer presented two seminars: Cruising the Best of Georgian Bay and Exploring the Spectacular North Channel.

On the final Friday of the Toronto Boat Show, 30 GLCC members bundled up and made their way to the National Yacht Club overlooking Toronto Harbour for the fourth annual GLCC Members’ Winter Meetup.  

With members attending from both sides of the border, including three Rear Commodores and seven Port Captains, it was a great evening, filled with friendly conversation, laughter, and a delicious meal in the cozy NYC clubhouse.

While the focus was very much on enjoying each other’s company, a bit of Club business did sneak in, with early discussions under way for the 2026 GLCC Lake Ontario Rally. More details will be shared on the GLCC website’s Events page as plans take shape.

A special thank-you goes to retired Port Captain Cynthia Sunstrum for organizing the event and the National Yacht Club staff for making this GLCC outing one to remember.