Kingston, October 12, 2023 – Sail Canada announced today that Paul Brennan from Toronto was awarded Sail Canada’s 2022 Volunteer of the Year Award.
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes volunteers for their outstanding contributions to sailing activities at Sail Canada member clubs, sailing schools and regattas. The contributions can be related to activities by the candidate(s) over a period of years or to a specific event or program during a particular year.
“When I received the award notification and started to read it, I assumed that it would be an award for an event or a race management team,” said Paul Brennan. “ABYC and CORK are both pretty active, have great people, and I knew nominations had been submitted. I was surprised and humbled when I realized that this was an individual award. Looking back at previous winners, I have had the good fortune to work with a few of them. Each had outstanding contributions and long service to sailing. I’m not sure that I’m in their league, but I will do my best to catch up with them. Thank you!”
Paul Brennan will be presented with the award on October 17 at Canada’s Celebration of Sailing. Tickets and more information are available at https://www.sailing.ca/product/canadas-celebration-of-sailing/.
Now the Past Commodore of Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club, Paul Brennan was instrumental in his role as Commodore during the COVID-19 pandemic, notably in the successful reopening of the club once pandemic shutdown restrictions were lifted. Paul’s leadership and determination led to the club being one of the first clubs to launch all boats, salvaging both the 2020 and 2021 sailing seasons, and ensuring safe competition.
Paul Brennan leads by example as he can always be found on the grounds of his club volunteering his time, joining working parties, doing haul outs, moving dinghies and equipment and prepping cradles. In addition to his efforts at his own club, Paul is an International Race Officer, a Board member of CORK / Sail Kingston and a member of the Ontario Sailing Race Management Committee. He can often be found on the race course in a race committee boat and, when he’s not on the water as Race Officer or setting marks, he is training and helping to certify assistant and club race officers.
He believes in investing in youth sailing and is a big supporter of ABYC’s members who are on the Canadian Sailing Team and Development Squad, such as Sarah Douglas and Clara Gravely. He is also a dedicated volunteer who, over decades of involvement in sailing, gives his time and expertise to better our sport and the experience of his fellow sailors, not only at his home club but across the country.
More information on the Volunteer of the Year Award is available at https://www.sailing.ca/volunteer-of-the-year-award-past-winners/.
About Sail Canada
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world class athletes, lifelong participants and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training its leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches and officials. With the valued support from our partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations and our member clubs, schools, organizations and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. By setting standards and delivering programs from home pond to podium for Canadians of all ages and abilities, from dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win and sail for life.
A sport in the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, except in 1904, the pursuit of success in these Games is what fuels the focus of Sail Canada as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
