History
We have a rich history.
The Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons got it’s start here in this District.
Intrigued by the US Power Squadron, which started in 1914, a group of Windsor boaters formed the first Canadian Squadron in 1938. Those pioneers passed the USPS Junior Piloting Course as the 1st step. We have been close partners with our good neighbours to the south since then.
The first “national” meeting was held in Chatham, October 14, 1948 when groups from Sarnia, London and Windsor got together and drafted the first constitution calling themselves The Canadian Power Squadrons.
Our Federal Charter was given on October 26, 1947 and the first National AGM was held in Toronto on November 26, 1949 – but remember, it really started here!
The Districts were created in 1959 to deal with the burgeoning membership.
Our Squadrons were formed as follows:
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Our District Commanders:
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H. McGladdery, N
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1960
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H.E. Holmer, AP
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1961-62
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G.L. Wilkinson,N
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1963-64
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H.F. Langdon, N
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1965-66
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W.H. Doyle, N
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1967-68
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G.P. Coppin, JN
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1969-70
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R. Nield, JN
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1971
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W.A. Hallatt, JN
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1972-73
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G.W. Brown, N
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1974-75
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N.H.E. Speller, AP
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1976-77
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G.C. Kirkland, JN
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1978-79
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R.G. Lee, AP
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1980-81
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H. Manser, AP
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1982-83
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C. Connor, JN
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1984-85
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V. Gray, AP
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1985-86
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F. Kelly, AP
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1987
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D. Wilson, N
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1988
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D.F. Charlton, AP
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1989
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Bob Gallagher, N
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1990-91
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Ken Cucksey, N
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1991-92
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Brian Govan, AP
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1992-93
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Pauline McKinnon, AP
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1993-94
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Bill Anthony
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1994-95
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Jack Wittig, S
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1995-96
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Norm Sonnenberg
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1996-97
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James Connor, AP
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1997-98
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Larry Hicks, S
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1998-99
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Tony Pritchard, N
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1999-00
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Rodwell Wraith, N
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2000-01
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Keith Roberts, N
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2001-02
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Jeff Evans, AP
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2002-03
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John Pegg, S
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2003-04
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Joe Gatfield, AP
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2004-05
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Al Hinge, AP
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2005-06
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Karen Connor, AP
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2006-07
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Joan Hicks, AP
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2007-09
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Chris Schooley, P
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2009-11
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| Mike Smith, P |
2011-13
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| Robert Parke, AP |
2013-15
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| Jay Jeffery, JN |
2015-17
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| Mavis Colyer |
2017-19
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| Scott Homan, P |
2019-24
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| Joe Gatfield |
2024-25
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District Rendezvous
Each year, in June or July, the District holds a weekend Rendezvous for its members at a local marina. The District Rendezvous is hosted (and organized) by one or two the squadrons and features games, parties and a commander’s contest.
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Year |
Location |
Host Squadron |
Commander Contest Winner |
Squadron |
| 1973 | Windsor | Lighthouse Cove | Bob Lee & Frank Dauw | Wallaceburg |
| 1974 | Windsor | Radlin’s Marina | Lloyd Tyrrell & Joe Mueller | Tillsonburg |
| 1975 | Wallaceburg | Fiddler’s Crk Mrna | Jim Hyatt (Tillsonburg) & Gary Taylor | Chatham |
| 1976 | Sarnia | Guildwood Inn | None Recorded | N Recorded |
| 1977 | Sarnia | Guildwood Inn | Brian Whitehead | Tillsonburg |
| 1978 | Sarnia | Guildwood Inn | Carl Blackmore | Goderich |
| 1979 | Sarnia | Guildwood Inn | Kitty Lou Speller | Chatham |
| 1980 | Sarnia | Guildwood Inn | Phil Roberts | St. Thomas |
| 1981 | Chatham | Holiday Inn | Brian Govan | London |
| 1982 | Chatham | Holiday Inn | Jack Wright | St. Thomas |
| 1983 | Chatham | Holiday Inn | Steve Repman | Windsor |
| 1984 | Wallaceburg | City Docks | Anne Spaunburg | Erie Shores W |
| 1985 | Sarnia | Sarnia Bay Marina | Gary Henrich | Windsor |
| 1986 | Erie Shore W | Leamington Marina | None Recorded | N Recorded |
| 1987 | Chatham | Wheels River Inn | Bob Marshall | Chatham |
| 1988 | Windsor | Luken Marina | Joanne Green | Windsor |
| 1989 | Sarnia | Sarnia Bay Marina | Roger Harrison | Sarnia |
| 1990 | Wallaceburg | City Docks | Don Davies | Wallaceburg |
| 1991 | Chatham | City Docks | Richard Ross | Wallaceburg |
| 1992 | Erie Shore W | Leamington Marina | None Recorded | N Recorded |
| 1993 | Wallaceburg | City Docks | Richard Scharf | Wallaceburg |
| 1994 | Goderich | Goderich Harbour | Al Hinge | London |
| 1995 | Sarnia | Sarnia Bay Marina | Jeff Evans | Sarnia |
| 1996 | Chatham | City Docks | Brian Lee | Wallaceburg |
| 1997 | Windsor | Bois Blanc Island | Nick Baratta | London |
| 1998 | London | Sarnia Bay Marina | Jay Jeffery | London |
| 1999 | Windsor | Bois Blanc Island | Joan Hicks & Howard Wilhelm | Tillsonburg |
| 2000 | Sarnia | Sarnia Bay Marina | Chris Schooley | Sarnia |
| 2001 | St Thomas | Leamington Marina | Plate Missing | Missing |
| 2002 | Wallaceburg | City Docks | Tracie Berekoff & Russel Moore | Windsor |
| 2003 | Chatham | Radlin’s Marnia | Dennis Cook & Howard Wilhelm | Tillsonburg |
| 2004 | Sarnia | Sarnia Bay Marina | Tom Sutherland | Stratford |
| 2005 | Windsor | Leamington Marina | Ossie Ianni | Sarnia |
| 2006 | Gdch & Strfd | Harbour Lights | Steve Davis | Sarnia |
| 2007 | Sarnia | Sarnia Bay Marina | Tom Sutherland | Stratford |
| 2008 | St Thomas | Leamington Marina | Mark Hunsberger | London |
| 2009 | Windsor | Bob-Lo Island | Mavis Colyer | Wallaceburg |
| 2010 | Wallaceburg | City Docks | Ron Donaldson | Windsor |
| 2011 | Sarnia | Sarnia | Harry Ditmar | Tillsonburg |
| 2012 | Goderich-Stratford | Bayfield | Scott Homan | Goderich |
| 2013 | Windsor | Holiday Harbour | Scott Homan | Goderich |
| 2014 | Tillsonburg | Sarnia | No Contest Held | – |
| 2015 | London | Port Stanley | Rained Out | – |
| 2016 | Wallaceburg | Wallaceburg | Squadron Contest | London |
| 2017 | Windsor | Belle River | Squadron Contest | |
| 2018 | Tillsonburg | Sarnia | Squadron Contest | |
| 2019 | Sarnia | Sarnia | Squadron Contest | |
| 2020 | London | Not Held | COVID-19 Virus | |
| 2023,24 | Rondeau | District | No Contest Held |