January 8-17, Enercare Centre
#TOBoatShow, #2016BoatingTrends, #Greavette85, #TwiggyTheSquirrel
Ready for summer? North America’s largest indoor boat show is the
premier destination to discover all that is new and popular in boating,
and what you have to see to believe when it comes to fun on the water!
Canadians love to get out on the water during the summer months, and there’s no better place to get a head-start on the boating season than at the 58th annual Toronto International Boat Show, January 8-17, 2016. Taking over more than a million square feet of showroom space at the Enercare Centre, the Toronto Boat Show is hands-down Canada’s preeminent one-stop shop where visitors can cruise the aisles for the latest marine gadgets and products in the market, as well as board hundreds of boats of all sizes from 40-ft luxury yachts to customized pontoons, canoes and sailboats. More new products, services and innovations are launched at the Show each year than anywhere else in Canada, so if it’s trending on the water, you’re sure to find it at the Toronto Boat Show.
The Toronto Boat Show also offers a wealth of resources, certification, education and hands-on skills classes for new and seasoned boaters, as well as many family-friendly activities that capture the fun and excitement of getting out on the water. There is something for everyone at the Boat Show from free daily seminars, a kids’ fishing and boating zone, special appearances by Canada’s most accomplished sailors, and the world’s largest indoor lake that boasts jaw-dropping shows including wakeboarding and waterskiing!
2016 TORONTO BOAT SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:
NEW Preview Day Hours: Preview Day opens early starting at 2pm on Friday, January 8, to give visitors more opportunity to get a “first look” at the Show while supporting children’s charities! A mid-winter rendezvous for the boating community, Preview Day offers a VIP experience, live and silent auctions, and has raised more than $710,000 for children’s charities to-date.
NEW – Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel: A star was born the day that owners Chuck and Lou Ann Best took their rescued pet squirrel out on a boating trip and discovered she had an incredible talent. No doubt that Twiggy entertains audiences wherever she goes, and in addition to cameos in films such as Dodgeball: A Underdog Story and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Brad Paisley’s music video, she’s also a big advocate of water safety, teaching the importance of wearing life jackets when out on the water.
NEW – Sailing Simulator: Ontario Sailing is debuting the first sailing simulator of its kind in the world that offers an innovative hands-on teaching tool to make sailing fun and easy to learn year-round. SAILING MAKER accommodates a fully equipped dinghy to allow for unlimited 360-degree rotation and can produce rolls with angles up to 25 degrees per side. Instructors will be on-site to demonstrate and offer hands-on practice.
NEW – Greavette: 85 Years – Heading Home to Gravenhurst: Celebrate the 85th anniversary of Greavette Boatworks by viewing a variety of vintage boats and motors. As one of the first boat manufacturers in Canada, Greavette boats are synonymous with craftsmanship, design and speed; renowned for building the fastest boat in the world, Miss Canada IV, which garnered international racing acclaim during the ‘30s and ‘40s and put Canada’s boat building prowess on the map. Visit the interactive participation area and photo booth to see how you’ll look in one of their iconic wooden boats.
NEW – Sails of the 2015 Pan Am Games: Watercolour was a cultural project presented by the Textile Museum of Canada in partnership with the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan American Games, supported by the Toronto Arts Council. Celebrating the artistry of Pan American nations, Watercolour was comprised of 41 sails featuring designs by an artist from each participating country. Fixed to small sailboats, the sails animated Lake Ontario with their rich visual diversity during ceremonies at the Toronto 2015 Games, and will be on display at the Toronto Boat Show.
NEW – The Boathouse: A hub of knowledgeable and unbiased advice, The Boathouse is where visitors can “Ask the Experts” as well as join workshops, participate in “how-to” demos, and get tips and resources on all topics related to boating, repairs, service, maintenance and much more. PLUS, visitors are encouraged to bring their inflatable PFDs for tips on how to properly inspect for safety.
Celebrating Fun on the Water: Drop by The Lake and take a ride in a canoe, kayak or paddleboat, or catch daily demonstrations of the fastest growing water sport: stand up paddle boarding (SUP). For those who are more adventurous learn how to – Go Wakeboarding, Waterskiing: guided by expert instructors from Summer Water Sports!
More than 200 FREE seminars and guest speakers: Learn from seasoned boaters and share in the incredible stories and adventures of Canada’s most accomplished sailors including:
Eric Holden – 2014 Sailor of the Year and first Canadian skipper win the Clipper World Yacht Race
Matt Rutherford – His journey and incredible story of overcoming adversity both as a troubled youth and surviving the treacherous seas of the North West Passage has become the subject of an award-winning documentary, Red Dot on The Ocean
Sharon Green – distinguished photographer Sharon Green makes her Toronto Boat Show debut bringing her vast collection of remarkable images from the exhilarating world of yacht racing over the past 30 years
Discover Boating at the New Welcome Boater Centre: Visitors can also check out the Discover Boating Centre to experiment with the live 87-inch interactive boat selector tool; take a boat-hair-don’t-care selfie and enter to win a series of prizes including a pair of Mercury Timber Trainer water-skis.
Great Canadian Fish Tank: The 40-ft long aquarium full of native Ontario marine life provides the perfect teaching tool for experts to share their tips on how to catch “the big one”. Young fishing enthusiasts can also try their hands at catching live trout at the Kids Fishing Zone with Fish TV’s Leo Stakos, Ron James and Jeff Chisholm.
WHEN: January 8 – 17, 2016
Preview Day Friday, January 8, 2 pm – 8 pm
Saturdays 10am – 7pm
Sundays 10am – 6pm
Monday – Friday 11am – 8pm
WHERE: Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place
100 Princes’ Blvd. Toronto, ON
TICKETS: Preview Day: $100 Platinum ticket, $35 Gold Ticket
$20 General Admission (17 – 64 yrs.)
$17 Seniors (65 yrs. & better)
$20 Unlimited Weekday Evening Pass (4pm – 8pm)
$25 Two-day Adult Pass (17 – 64 yrs.)
$20 Two-day Senior Pass (65 yrs. & better)
FREE KIDS 16 years & under when accompanied by an adult
PHONE: 905-951-0009
WEBSITE: www.TorontoBoatShow.com
ABOUT THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
The Toronto International Boat Show is owned and produced by Canadian Boat Shows Inc. In generating more than $354 million in economic impact to the region, it remains one of the largest consumer boat shows in North America. During the last five years, the Show has annually attracted more than 500 exhibitors and 80,000 attendees. More boats are purchased at the Toronto International Boat Show than at any other place or event in Canada. About 44% of Canadians (15 million people) participate in boating and Canadians own more than 4.3 million boats. Direct revenues across Canada’s core recreational boating industry total $5 billion per year and it directly employs approximately 67,000 Canadians. (NMMA Canada – The Economic Impact of Recreational Boating In Canada; 2013.)
