History
Goderich CPS is a group of dedicated boaters. We are all volunteers teaching safe boating, seamanship, navigation & marine electronics. Goderich CPS is a unit of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons -Escadrilles Canadiennes de Plaisance (CPS-ECP) a nation-wide, non-profit, group with about 35,000 members.
Goderich Power & Sail Squadron: A Short History
The original request initiating the Goderich Power Squadron, now known as the Goderich Power & Sail Squadron, occurred when Dr G. Frank Mills, then Mayor of Goderich, telephoned DC W. H. Doyle in Sarnia. At least part of his motivation stemmed from a desire for a Federal Grant to develop Snug Harbour.
A Goderich Study Group of Canadian Power Squadrons was organized at a meeting in Goderich, October 11, 1968 with three Western Ontario District Officers and four members of Canadian Power Squadrons in attendance. Dr G. F. Mills, Goderich was elected Chairman and R. S. Atkey, Clinton, was elected Secretary-Treasurer.
A course in Piloting was offered with H.R. Corbett as in instructor under the supervision of G.P. Copin, JN, London – then District Executive Officer. Students were enrolled from Goderich, Clinton, Wingham, Blyth, Londesboro, Seaforth and Centralia. Classes were held on Friday evenings from October 1968 to March 1969, first in McKay Hall then in Goderich District Collegiate. Attendance averaged 24 with 18 students writing the exam on March 23, 1969 – all passed.
On April 27, 1969, those students and Canadian Power Squadron members attended a meeting in Goderich at which a resolution was adopted to petition for a warrant to organize a squadron. This was granted by the Governing Board on May 12, 1969, and the Charter was officially presented on Saturday, June 14, 1969, in ceremonies at the Canadian Forces Base, Clinton with 200 attendees entertained by Bobby Downs and his Orchestra.
Charter members were: R.S. Atkey, R. Carter, H. Cook, H.R. Corbett, J. Elder, F. Fester, R.V. Hurst, B. Kuehl, D. Langridge, D. McArthur, B.Y. McCreath, M. McGill, E.B. Menzies, F. Mills, E. Newland, E.A. Roberts, G. Robertson, E. Shera, and K.S. Wood. Our Commander was F. Mills.
Those early experiences set the course for years to come, with creative leaders serving members from a wide geographic area.
Our first female bridge member was Jeanne Baker who served as Supply officer in 1978 and Commander in 1980-81.
28 people have served as Commanders and a number of members have served at the District and National levels.
Our newsletter “The Skipper” was first published in 1979 and has been published continuously since.
The Goderich Pennant was proposed in 1979 The broken Chevron represents the Goderich breakwater and the circles represent Q Fl (2) Goderich Light.
For a small squadron, we have been very successful at offering many courses and engaging with our community. Our membership in 2020 stands at 50 Regular Members, 12 Family Members and 7 Life Members.
