December 6th 2021
Created by: Tim FitzGerald
 
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Good people volunteer! Rotary Club of Simcoe members Janis Demmans and Hadley Jackson are also volunteers at the Port Dover Yacht Club directing the Sailing School (kids and adult programmes). This Non-profit school is in its 12th year. Its a great asset for Norfolk and surrounding counties. Initially launched from the Port Dover and Port Ryerse beaches, it operates from floating ramps at the Port Dover Outer Harbour Marina.
 
There are lot of costs associated with a sailing school. Some sailing schools in Ontario have shut down. However, says Janis, our school survives and prospers with most of the work carried out by volunteers and friends of the school. A crew of four retired volunteers meet every Tuesday to do maintenance on the boats and equipment. " Friends " of the school include a crane operator, marina operator, members of PDYC and local industry.
 
 The instructors are paid (earning money for college and the like) and now are home grown graduates of the Sailing School. Its not easy - the instructors must pass three levels of Sail Canada/Sail Ontario instruction courses. First sailing, next qualifications in First Aid, Health and Safety, Leadership and Operation of VHF Radio Communications; finally how to be an Instructor. These accreditations are valuable in personal development future careers and employment.
 
Janis manages the youth programme up to age 16. Sailing is not an elitist sport. Its putting students on small boats and teaching them skills and confidence of how to get into a boat and make it do what it is supposed to do. Even in the 2021 Covid-19 year, the school put 70 "kid-weeks" thorough the programme. As a Non-Profit organization, they charge fees to recover costs; but keep spaces open for students that cannot afford to pay the fees.
 
Hadley runs the adult programme. 30 hours of instruction over two weekends - sailing on the water in the school's 30 foot sailboat; and off the water instruction. Its tough, not everyone graduates; but, those that do get a Certificate that allows them to operate/charter sailboats in locations such as the Caribbean and further abroad. One couple did exactly that -first graduated, second bought a sailboat in Florida and then cruised the Caribbean.
 
Ever present, Lisa Marr has been selfless/continuous volunteer and organizer of the school from the 'get go".