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• Now Hiring: Safety and Events Manager

  Safety and Events Manager Overview Are you passionate about ocean sports, safety, accessibility and community? The Jericho Sailing Centre Association is seeking an energetic Safety and Events Manager to support our on-water safety programmes, community events, and member services. This is a dynamic, hands-on role that combines safety operations, event coordination, and team leadership at Vancouver’s only ocean recreation community centre. This job offers a unique mix of office, exterior, and on-water work, perfect for someone who loves the ocean, community, teamwork, and variety in their workday. This year-round full-time position requires evening and weekend work hours Friday-Tuesday from April to October, and daytime work hours Sunday-Thursday from November to March. Key Responsibilities Safety and Jericho Rescue Lead the general membership safety programme, including English Bay Safety Seminars, monitoring member craft for safety issues, promoting PFD use, and enforcing the no-swimming zone. Perform rescues of mariners in Jericho-style craft as required, in all conditions. Respond to general marine emergencies as a vessel of opportunity. Recruit, train, and retain volunteer rescue team members while maintaining a positive, inclusive, and professional team culture. Conduct both formal and informal on-water and shoreside instruction and update training materials. Schedule rescue volunteers to ensure adequate coverage for safety and events. Track volunteer skill development and monitor their personal logbooks. Maintain all JSCA-owned rescue boats, craft, outboards and trailers to established readiness standards, revising as needed. Ensure adequate spare parts and supplies, and inspect, maintain, restock, and reorder all first aid/rescue supplies and equipment. Tidiness and cleanliness of boat areas and rescue ready room. Update and organize WorkSafeBC required MSDS safety books. Coordinate or conduct rescue, safety, and first aid training for staff and volunteers. Maintain regular communication with Rescue Team members and manage the online sign-up system. Foster positive working relationships with external groups and agencies. Racing and Event Management Lead on-water and shoreside support and execution of regular sailing, paddling, rowing, and related events. Assist in planning and executing on-water and land-based special events. Organize and assist in set-up, teardown and cleaning of booked rooms and events. Run sailboat races, including scoring and preparing related documentation. Conduct seminars for beginner sail racers. Prepare and submit marine event permit applications. Develop the annual draft event schedule and collaborate with the Programmes Committee to finalize it. Communicate with the sail and paddle racing communities and other internal and external stakeholders to ensure events reflect participant needs. Recruit and manage event volunteers. Maintain the online event calendar on the JSCA website. Administrative Duties Provide general office coverage: handle payments, respond to member inquiries (in person, phone, and email), and update records using the member database. Support JSCA administrative staff as needed. Support JSCA storage manager as needed. Supervise, train, and support summer staff. Assist with JSCA’s off-season consumer show presence. Maintain the JSCA website and contribute content to social media channels. Other Duties Maintain friendly, professional interactions with members and the public. Assist maintenance staff as needed. Maintain all JSCA third wheels and launch dollies. Tuesday evening compound lock-up. Qualifications and Skills Passion for and extensive experience in one or more naturally powered ocean sport (e.g., dinghy sailing, windsurfing, wing foiling, kayaking, outrigger paddling, SUP, rowing). Pleasure Craft Operator Card or Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP). Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) for VHF radio operation. WorkSafe Level I First Aid (or higher). Sail Canada Club Race Officer certification (or higher). Strong interpersonal and conflict de-escalation skills. Excellent motorboat handling skills. Composure under pressure. Basic mechanical, electrical, and general maintenance abilities. Basic fibreglass repair experience. Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Access) and Teams. Familiarity with WordPress. Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) considered an asset. Instructor or guiding certification in relevant ocean sports considered an asset. University degree considered an asset. Compensation & Benefits $58,000–$70,000/year (based on experience) Extended health and dental benefits To Apply Send your resumé and cover letter to careers@jsca.bc.ca. Applications open until Wednesday December 3 at 1630H.

• Jericho Sailing Centre Etiquette

  Common sense and consideration of fellow members help make the Jericho Sailing Centre a true community centre with a friendly salt water community atmosphere. Here are a few etiquette reminders to keep things sailing along smoothly: Do not leave your craft unattended on the shoreline for extended periods – share the shore.                    RAMPS, and the areas adjacent to launching ramps, are for craft launch/retrieval only. Do not rig, repair or otherwise loiter in this area.Do not leave or rig your craft in the rinsing areas adjacent to hosing stations.The Jericho Sailing Centre is a SMOKE/VAPE FREE facility. There is No Smoking/Vaping permitted in any Vancouver Park or beach area.Give pathway users the right of way and bear in mind they may be distracted and not aware that you are crossing the pathway with your craft or launch rope.Launch dollies are for launching/retrieval only (not for storage) and must be returned to the fence immediately after use.If you launch from your own dolly or trailer return it to your storage spot after launching.Do not use the winches unless you are familiar with their safe operation. Winch instruction is available from staff or Jericho Rescue Team members. Only members or registered guests may use winches & dollies.Only leashed, well behaved, non-barking/whining dogs are allowed in the compound. No dogs are allowed in the building or on the deck. Do not tie dogs to the base of stairwells or in other traffic areas. Do not leave your dog on shore while you are on the water. The City prohibits dogs on beaches. In consideration of other Jericho users please consider leaving your dog at home while visiting the Jericho Sailing Centre.Please coil hoses immediately after use and conserve water.Do not block aisle ways.Rinse racks are for rinsing not drying.Swimming is prohibited in front of the Jericho Sailing Centre.

• Colder Conditions Require Appropriate Attire and Preparation

  Some people look forward to winter ocean recreation as a way to keep enjoying the salt water sports that they love. Winter conditions present a slate of considerations. Over the years, Jericho Rescue has rescued people in the initial stages of hypothermia at all times of year. In winter, this is a risk people should be mitigating with proper preparation. Tim Murphy sails on a blustery, chilly day in mid January. Note the smaller ILCA 6 rig, drysuit and toque. Tim also made sure to stay close to shore in case something went awry. Upgrade your attirePlay safe and dress for survival. Now that the air and water temperatures have become noticeably cooler, the wetsuit or thermally protective attire that may have been optional in the summer months is now mandatory. What attire is appropriate depends on your activity. If you are sailing or windsurfing then a cold water wetsuit is in order. A full length 4/3mm or thicker wetsuit with a proper hood or hat would be a minimum (a 5/4mm or thicker suit would be even warmer). Wetsuit manufacturers also offer accessory thermal layers (vests, hoods and shorts) to add warmth as conditions get colder. This is a great way to extend the usefulness of your regular suit. Some folks prefer drysuits. Make sure the style of drysuit is appropriate for your activity and this time of year it would be important to make sure you are wearing proper insulating layers beneath your drysuit. In either case, check to make sure your suit is in good condition with no holes and that the seals are functioning properly. Heat loss from your head and/or neck should be addressed with a hood, hat and/or a neck tube. Neoprene booties, gloves or mittens are also a good idea. Jonathan enjoyed a snowy surfski session in February. He stayed close to shore and was dressed appropriately in the event of cold water immersion. If paddling or rowing, its a good idea to add insulating and/or wind-blocking layers to a dry bag in the bottom of your boat. This way you can layer up and down as you cycle through work and recovery intervals during your workout, or if you end up getting wetter than expected. It’s important that these layers work well when wet and do not absorb water – wool and synthetics are recommended. Be smart about your activity patternsSailing, paddling or rowing in the cold means being smart about your route and preparation. Mitigate your chances of being caught out in the cold by doing more laps closer to home instead of forging further from shore. If windy, make your way upwind first to protect against getting caught downwind should something go wrong. Be conservative with your gear choices, skill and endurance estimates. The cold combined with extra attire always makes activity a little more difficult and the consequences of gear or skill failure are more dangerous. Choose a smaller sail, or a more seaworthy kayak than you might choose in similar conditions during the summer. Resist the urge for “one more reach” and make sure you’re on shore before you get tired or before the cold reduces your ability to operate your craft competently. Have a plan to call for help if you need it.The law requires a sound signalling device, but a whistle or horn is no good if no one is on the water to hear it. In the winter there are less boats in English Bay, and a boater in distress is less likely to be spotted by a vessel of opportunity. If you do venture further from shore be prepared with a way to call for help. A cell phone in a waterproof case or a VHF marine radio (as long as you are licensed to operate it) are good items to bring with you. Safety in numbersUse the buddy system. Always sail, paddle, or row with someone else, especially in cold water conditions. Let a reliable friend or relative know when and where you are going and when you expect to return. Diligently contact them upon your safe return. These UBC Sailing Club kayakers are well equipped for winter paddling. Note the safety gear on deck, drysuits, neoprene hoods, a calm day and a buddy to paddle with. What to do if you fall in: The 1-10-1 principle and H.E.L.P.If you do fall into cold water (water temperatures in winter around here hover around 6 degrees Celsius), no matter how well prepared, your body will cool off more quickly than it can generate heat. 1 minute – cold shock In the minute or two immediately after immersion, your body’s cold water shock response will quicken your breathing and heart rate. Your only job during this phase is to gain control of your breathing and to not panic. Protect your airway at all costs. If it’s a windy day staying in the lee of your craft will help. 10 minutes – cold incapacitationOnce your breathing rate subsides, you then have about 10 minutes or so of fine and gross motor strength and coordination to get yourself out of your situation before the cold functionally incapacitates you. This is when you should try and re-board your craft and/or find a way to get your body out of the water and get to shore as quickly as you can. If you can’t get out of the water try and stay with your craft. Even getting your body partially out of the water will significantly increase your chances of survival. If you are not wearing your PFD you will likely drown after 10-20 minutes when the cold will take away your ability to swim. 1 hour – until unconciousness due to hypothermiaIf you remain in the cold water with little additional insulation, you’ll have about one hour before you lose consciousness due to hypothermia. Wearing a PFD, proper wetsuit or drysuit and using the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP) will help extend your survival time. Note that inflatable PFDs offer less thermal protection than inherently buoyant foam …

• SAFETY is YOUR responsibility

  On the ocean there are elements of risk that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Regardless of how you decide to use the ocean always show courtesy to others. Please adhere to the code listed below and share with others the responsibility for a safe ocean experience.  It is every member’s responsibility to know and observe the rules of the road when on or near the water. Here are some key rules which every Jericho member must know and practice.0.5 IT IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID A COLLISION 1. Always wear your P.F.D. on the water.2. Sail powered craft have the right of way over power craft, paddle and rowing powered craft.3. All non-commercial vessels shall keep well clear of commercial vessels.4. It is illegal and extremely dangerous to pass between a tug and it’s tow.5. A port tack sailing vessel shall keep clear of a starboard tack vessel.6. A windward vessel shall keep clear of a leeward vessel.7. A vessel clear astern shall keep clear of a vessel ahead.8. Any vessel overtaking another shall keep clear.9. A vessel tacking or gybing shall keep clear of a vessel on a tack.10. The area south of the orange can buoys is for training or transiting only.11. Swimming or wading on the beach in front of the Centre is prohibited and is particularly dangerous for small children.12. It is unsafe to loiter or let children play near the bottom of launching ramps.13. Stay well clear of the end of the Jericho Pier as fishers cast lines as far as possible.14. Be cautious of pathway traffic when launching/retrieving.15. Do not leave your craft on the shoreline for extended periods of time. Common sense goes a long way toward maintaining a safe environment. Membership in the Jericho Sailing Centre Association is contingent on members knowing and observing the Safe Ocean Sailing rules.