DO NOT give up – last Open House this summer!19 Jul
29 July, 7pm, 215 Spadina Ave north of Queen.
Only 4 dozen berths available – come and get them!
29 July, 7pm, 215 Spadina Ave north of Queen.
Only 4 dozen berths available – come and get them!
TBI is in a recruitment mode. The best and brightest are invited to apply. Watch this space for job description and requirements.
The sky was cerulean blue, not a cloud in sight, donors and supporters in good spirit, food provided by the Eat Your Greens and Chef Christopher Schroer original and delicious. Then there were the fireworks and it was cold, cold, cold so off to the galley for hot chocolate!
Please join us for the 15 July Open House for an opportunity to get answers to any questions you may have before you decide to sail with us this summer! The President will be delighted to introduce you to our charity, our programs, the mission of the organization and the many life long memories you will take away from this experience.
RSVP to office@TorontoBrigantine.org or by calling 416-596-7117.
Public parking is available just north of Sullivan Avenue at Grange east side of Spadina.
The last Open House will be held on the first week of August so please watch this space for updates.
Inaugural Scholarship Award presented by the Naval Officers Association of Canada
Recipient: Celine Moore, WO, Senior, TS Playfair
2010 Seamanship Award to the Trainee in the Winter Program who shows a high level of commitment, initiative and teamwork. Engraved seaman’s knife donated by Captain Seann O’Donoghue, Alumnus.
Recipient: Mattheus Fackelmann
2010 Deep Sea Award donated by the Naval Officers Association of Canada
Recipients: Riley King, XO, TS Playfair and Taeo Tsagkaris, XO, STV Pathfinder


L-R: Riley King, Captain Weed, past Captain and TBI ED Richard Birchall, Captain Schroer and Taeo Tsagkaris
Throughout the Victoria Day a group of volunteers worked at the dry dock to get the ship ready for the season. We thank dearly everyone who made time to stop by and help us with this demanding work.
Paul Dennis, President, reports that Playfair had left dry dock on Tuesday, May 25, and is back in Marina Quay West. In the end of the project, Playfair’s 5 year Transport Canada inspection was successfully completed, some steel was replaced and some other retrofit items and basic maintenance completed.
As usual, there is more that needs to be done with more time and funds but for now, we are satisfied with the results of this year’s dry dock initiative. In addition to all the work on the mechanical systems and hull, Playfair was given brand new coats of paint topsides and bottom. She looks really great!!
Here is a thank-you note from Paul:
Congratulations definitely go out to Rhys Weed who coordinated the effort and who has worked tirelessly on this project for the last three weeks while Playfair was in dry dock and many weeks before that planning the details. This project would not have been possible without his dedication and hard work. Rhys received assistance from many volunteers who responded to our call for help and donated their time and skills during the day, in the evenings and on the weekends to get Playfair back in the water.
They are (in no specific order and I apologize if I missed anyone):
Evan Dubblestyne – Rhys meet Evan on a training course at Georgian College in January. Evan has recently graduated with a Marine Engineers degree and volunteered to come down and work with Rhys for an entire week on various mechanical issues
Harry Slade – son of Amanda Slade, alumni and supporter of Brigs. Harry volunteered for most days Playfair was in dry dock contributing over 100 hours of quality work!
Rosie Neale – alumna (Executive Officer) and TBI stalwart
Ashleigh Malone – board member who worked the entire long weekend and more
Anna Mayberry – alumna (Executive Officer) and TBI stalwart
Eva H-D – alumna and good friend of the organization
The Weeds – Kezia (alumna), Joan and Jeff who are always willing to help out
Nancy Dillion – friend and a Weed associate
Liz Greflund – friend
Ben Dennis – alumnus
Ghislain Cote and friend from Montreal who are hoping to start their own Tall Ship program and wanted to come down and help out and learn about our program
Emma Mu – alumna
Jeremy White – alumnus, Board member and Chair of the STOP committee
In addition to our volunteers (and again I apologize if I missed anyone), I would like to recognize all of the Officers who put in many hours after school and on the weekends to help. Special recognition goes to Theo Tsagaris and Riley King, TBI’s Executive Officers, who really displayed true leadership and dedication by putting in a phenomenal number of hours working on Playfair and coordinating the efforts of the other Officers.
Finally, I would like to thank Eric Rogers and his team at Toronto Dry Dock, Gord Sloan and Julian Cloutier who stuck with us throughout the project and Mark Nye and Nye Manufacturing who donated a welder, Jack (sorry Jack missed your last name), for an entire week (Mark’s son is an Officer in the program). Without their support, skill and hard work the plate work would not have been completed so well.
As with all things Brigs, in the end, our dry dock success this year was defined by a collection of individuals who displayed a determined commitment for the Programs and great love of the vessels and seamanship.
Thanks everyone for your continued support.
Paul Dennis
TBI has been sail-training youth since 1962. You can ensure that we will continue to provide the life-transforming experience by supporting us with a planned gift such as a bequest in your will, a gift of life insurance or a charitable annuity.
Making a legacy gift is as simple as thinking about the people and charities that are important to you and considering your support for them after you are gone by:
TBI Toronto is a registered Canadian charity; Our Charitable Tax Number is 11926 5924
All personal information and addresses submitted to TBI are confidential. TBI does not make its donor lists available to outside organizations. Please note our legal name is: Toronto Brigantine Incorporated.
TBI staff would be pleased to work with you and your financial advisor to set up a planned gift that best suits your lifestyle. For more information or to make a donation, please call at TBI office at 416-596-7117
The new Spirit of Canada ECO 60 is currently in Port la Foret, France preparing for it’s first transatlantic delivery. The ECO 60 will leave France around May 26th with a crew of 4 and head directly to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia where it will start the transformation to the traditional Spirit of Canada colours and a summer of offshore training and support sailing.
It feels great to be back in sailing mode, I’m looking forward to many miles of training aboard Spirit of Canada in preparation for the Velux 5 Oceans starting this October. The boat is in great shape but we will be conducting a mini refit once we are in Canada to refine the systems. Later in August we will take the boat out of the water to apply a new Nautix white racing bottom. Once we are back in France in September, a new set of race sails will complete the preparations. At this point we are in great shape and I feel very confident with our preparations for my third single handed race around the world. Stay tuned as we sail from France to Canada as regular updates will be posted from the crew. Take care, Derek