Canadian Yachting October 2021 - 32

Canadian Power
and Sail Squadrons
Published by Authority
of the Board of Directors
Editor-in-Chief
Paul Rellinger
Art Director
Vanessa Schmidt
Graphic Designer
Nour Bawab
Proofreaders
Louise White, SN
Donald Macintosh
Photographer
Don Butt, AP
Published 6 times per year: February,
April, May, June, October, December,
Copy deadline is ten weeks prior
to publication. Editorial copy and
correspondence should be sent to
theporthole@cps-ecp.ca
Patron
H.R.H. The Prince Philip
Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., K.T.
Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons
Escadrilles canadiennes de plaisance
26 Golden Gate Court
Toronto, ON M1P 3A5
1-888-CPS-BOAT F. 416-293-2445
theporthole@cps-ecp.ca
www.cps-ecp.ca
Paul M. Rellinger, Editor-in-chief, The Port Hole
Not unlike many of you, I have been following
with interest the trial of Linda O'Leary, the wife
of celebrity businessman Kevin O'Leary.
Charged with careless operation of a vessel under
the Canada Shipping Act in connection with
an August 2019 double fatality boat crash on
Lake Joseph north of Toronto, she has pleaded
not guilty. As of this writing, the evidence portion
of her trial had wrapped up with Ontario
Court Justice Richard Humphrey scheduled to
deliver his decision on September 14.
I'm not going to review here the evidence as
presented and countered by the prosecution
and the defence, nor will I offer an opinion as
to whether I think this tragedy resulted from
negligence of some kind or was simply an unavoidable
accident preceded by circumstances
that conspired to make it happen. To do so isn't
my place or anyone's. Only our system of justice
can render such a verdict based on the evidence
presented, a process anchored by the prosecution's
duty to present its case and the accused
person's right to a defence.
The O'Leary trial has garnered extensive media
coverage but don't be misled as to why. Most
cases involving a breach of regulatory legislation
don't garner the least amount of media
attention. The considerable ink and airtime that
has been devoted to this case has had nothing
whatsoever to do with the nature of the alleged
offence but everything to do with the 'celebrity'
status of the defendant. This is the world we live
in, like it or not. Readers and viewers have an
insatiable interest in the lives of the privileged.
When they're connected with an alleged misdeed,
our thirst for more is ramped up and so it
is the media that quenches that thirst.
When we take into consideration CPS-ECP's
stated mission to better ensure the wellbeing
of all who use our waterways, this media attention
is most welcome. Yes, we can't forget,
32 CANADIAN YACHTING | OCTOBER 2021
or downplay in any fashion, the fact that two
people lost their lives that August night on Lake
Joseph. That's a tragedy in every sense of the
word. But that said, there's no denying that had
this matter involved a lesser-known defendant,
we wouldn't be paying attention. Why? Simple.
It wouldn't make the news to the same degree
that it has.
As a result, we're reminded in a very dramatic
way of the lifesaving importance of adhering
to The Marine Rules of the Road as reviewed
by CPS-ECP Special Programs Manager John
Gullick in this issue of The Port Hole. We're
reminded of how quickly a pleasurable day or
night on the water can devolve into a disaster.
A subsequent July 14 boat crash on Lake
Rosseau near Muskoka's Windermere Marina
that claimed two more lives serves as another
painful wake-up call that the core mandate of
CPS-ECP - to equip boaters with the smarts to
navigate our waterways safely with regard for
others at all times - is as relevant today as it
ever was.
Should O'Leary be found guilty of the charge she
         
the media stage as fast as she came upon it.
What will be left behind is a powerful and poignant
reminder of the importance of boating
rules and safety education as taught to thousands
upon thousands of boaters via their
participation in CPS-ECP courses. That broad
outreach remains our best defence against
similar tragedies darkening an otherwise bright
summer.
As always, any contribution to The Port Hole
is welcome.
Email your articles and/or photos to me directly
at communication-chair@cps-ecp.org or to
theporthole@cps-ecp.ca
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Canadian Yachting October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting October 2021