Canadian Boating June 2024 - 32

SPECIAL FEATURE
PAVING THE WAY TO
CLEANER BOATING
HOW A COMMITMENT TO REDUCING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT IS INSPIRING CLEANER BOATING IN ONTARIO
By | Dave Rozycki, President, Maple Leaf Marinas
O
ver the past seven decades,
Ontario's marina industry has
developed alongside some of
Canada's largest freshwater lakes. Boaters
have been able to enjoy the beautiful scenery
and create lasting memories on the
water, with certain marinas dating back to
the 1960s. As we reflect on this rich history,
we can begin to see trends in how
our footprint may have had an effect on
the environment, in not-so-positive ways.
However, by embracing innovative solutions
and adopting sustainable practices,
both marinas and boaters hold the key to
preserving and enhancing the quality of
our lakes and marine life for generations
to come.
At Maple Leaf Marinas, we take great
pride in leading the charge toward creating
a more sustainable boating experience
at each of our 20 locations. From
providing comprehensive staff training on
responsible fuel handling, waste oil recycling,
and spill remediation, to exploring
alternatives to single-use plastics, such
as shrink wrap. We are investing in the
removal of underground fuel tanks and
installing more eco-friendly, aboveground
Nothing better than a Georgian Bay sunset with family and
friends.
tanks with containment reservoirs at all
of our locations. We value knowledge,
education and innovative solutions at the
heart of our operations to foster a culture
of sustainability.
We are becoming increasingly vigilant
when it comes to reducing the amount of
plastics we dispose of in landfills yearly,
due to the number of boats we winterize
each fall. This awareness has pushed our
teams to find innovative solutions to help
alleviate waste, such as investing in the
infrastructure of new covered rack storage
buildings and heated storage facilities.
Over the past three years alone, we've
constructed 500 new racks and added
30,000 square feet of indoor storage,
offering boaters sustainable alternatives
to shrink-wrapping. Moreover, we've
forged partnerships with recycling facilities
to ensure that the shrink wrap we do
use finds a second life. Collaborating with
facilities in Toronto, we've facilitated the
transformation of used shrink wrap into
construction blocks, benefiting communities
in need worldwide.
Upon acquiring a new property, one
of our first action items is to complete
32 CANADIAN BOATING | JUNE 2024
a comprehensive three-phase environmental
assessment process. We conduct
historical assessments to identify any
potential issues, followed by thorough
environmental site assessments involving
soil and groundwater sampling. If contaminants
are found, we swiftly move to
phase three, remediation, ensuring that
the site is restored to its natural state and
ongoing monitoring is in place to safeguard
its environmental health. By placing
a high priority on this assessment, we
can contribute to improving the quality
and health of our waterways in a manner
that may have been challenging for previous
owners to achieve.
As environmental awareness increases
among the marina community, numerous
marinas and boaters are discovering ways
to minimize their environmental impact.
Initiatives like Boating Ontario's Clean
Marine Program, The Great Lakes Clean
Up Project, and efforts by the Georgian
Bay Biosphere, are making it simpler for
boaters to select environmentally responsible
marinas or actively participate in
improving their boating community's
sustainability.
Canadian Boating June 2024

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