The benefits of sailing are now available to youths from diverse backgrounds

BY PAUL JUNOR

It has been 25 years now since the non-profit charity Broad Reach Canada has been offering sailing lessons to BIPOC youth. Their mission is to engage under-represented youth in sailing to develop knowledge, skills and social belonging.

Since it was launched in 1988, they have been committed to their vision to inspire youth through the power of sailing and have taken actions to reach BIPOC youth. They are committed to fostering greater equity and inclusion within these communities, and positively influencing the personal growth of youth from various backgrounds. They promote a world without systemic structure that creates fear, is unjust, or upholds racial oppression. They are committed to examining real ways that we can help to dismantle systemic racism in our society. They are also committed to being transparent in this process; to listen, learn, and move forward together in shared understanding.

Some of the specific programs that Broad Reach Canada offers are:

Ship 2 Shores

This is an exciting and rare opportunity to learn, give back and have fun, while sailing amazing tall ships and sailboats. In addition to learning how to sail, you’ll make friends, grow your interpersonal skills, and serve your community through a project of your choice. Currently all the voyage opportunities are fully booked and there is a waiting list for this free program.

Summer A-Float

Each of their sailboats offers a different level of operational complexity providing youth with continuity of challenges to learn, to apply new knowledge and skills, and to embrace unique opportunities for development.

Winter A-Shore

Classroom-based activities that include S.T.E.A.M. related subjects: sailing and navigation theory workshops: understanding of all aspects of vessel maintenance; study and examination for the Pleasure Craft Operators Card with professional certification, following the successful completion of the examination; exploration of marine art and history; the design, construction, and sailing of a cardboard sailboat is the school’s swimming pool.

Come Black Tuesdays

This is for those youth who are keener than others to learn, to sail and to reach for more opportunities. Come on every Tuesday and be a keener!

Some of the benefits of sailing which are listed on its website include the following:

Spark confidence

Use the transformative power of sail to spark confidence in the next generation of leaders-across Canada and from vulnerable and at-risk backgrounds.

Workforce development

Equip kids with the skills and knowledge to get good jobs.

Getting along

Being a crewmember aboard a sailing ship is the ultimate training to become a collaborative team player.

Boats are cool

Seriously. They’ve got these huge sails and they go fast when the wind blows. This speaks to kids.

I interviewed Charles Waterman CEO and President of Broad Reach Canada on Wednesday, August 9^th, 2023. He shared with me his early experiences growing up in Barbados close to the beach where he was exposed to the sharp class consciousness in this Caribbean island. He told me that when he left home in his early 20s, he was privileged to live on a boat and learned many vital lessons. Upon his arrival in Canada in 1982, the parish priest of the Anglician church that he attended was a sailor and he had opportunities to go sailing with him. Charles observed that he was the only Black person surrounded by mostly older White men.

In 2021, the CEO of Broad Reach Canada reached out to Charles regarding the possibility of making sailing accessible to youths from vulnerable and at-risk communities. He states,” My job is to provide access to kids who would not normally be in a position to gain these opportunities.” Charles told me that Steve Mason was recruited as a skipper and through his involvement Broad Reach Canada has expanded. Charles believes that accessibility should not be based on a price, and all youths, especially BIPOC, should be able to access the multiple benefits that sailing affords: relationship building, networking, connecting, belonging and development of life skills.

Ron is excited about the 25^th Anniversary of Broad Reach Canada, which will be taking place on November 18^th, 2023. He is pleased that the benefits of sailing are now available to youths from diverse backgrounds in order to help them fulfill their potential to be best in all areas of life.