Boat Insurance Specialist Petra Fischer, TIBS Women’s Day Panelist


An extremely successful event in 2019, Women’s Day returns to the Toronto Boat Show January 19, 2020. Designed to educate and empower women at the helm, it’s an entire day of seminars, workshops, on-the-water docking and in-vehicle trailering sessions.  Last year’s premier event hosted over 100 women.

Tammy Wolf is the 2020 keynote with Overcome Your Obstacles & Turn Dreams Into Reality.  Wolf is the first woman to achieve a podium finish in the F1 Champboat event, beating all the odds to become a successful powerboat race driver.

Among the many workshops and seminars available, is the Lunch and Learn Panel Discussion where the audience is free to ask boating questions of any nature. Panelists for the 2020 program include boat insurance specialist Petra Fischer, SAMS® Accredited Marine Surveyor® Nicole McLoughlin and Certified Marine Manager Robin McKeown.

Petra has worked in the Yacht Department ‘Skippers’ Plan’ at Arthur J. Gallagher Canada for 13 years. An active member of the boating community and a passionate sailboat racer and cruiser who calls the Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club in Toronto home, Petra is now volunteers as a Sail Canada Club Judge.

As a result of Petra’s boating experience and passion for the recreational boating industry, she is a natural at fielding all types of boating questions.

Other Women’s Day workshops feature: Pam Wall with Ship-to-Shore: Sailboat Docking & Line Handling; Diane Reid discussing navigation; towed watersports with Erika Langman and a panel discussion on Boating with Kids with two Moms and a professional mariner who was first on a boat at 3 months, providing the ‘kids side’.

There are two on-location events: Power Boat Docking and Maneouvring on The Lake and Get Hitched! Trailing With Confidence in the underground parking garage. Both  workshops have limited availability so book early to avoid disappointment.

There are also prizes & raffles a gift bag and end-of-day reception.

Built into the day is time to meet other women, ask questions, share stories and create communities that will live on outside this one day!

Jacqui, who attended the 2019 inaugural event, stated: ‘Women’s Day really improved my knowledge in several areas (anchoring, docking, diesel engine basics, knots) and built my confidence to be more than just “first mate” this Summer!’

Registration is required, space is limited to 150 women and all sessions will take place at the Toronto  Boat Show. Cost for the day is $99 and that includes a general admission ticket.  Tickets are on sale now.

A few tips if you plan to attend. Don’t forget to bring a jacket, it can get cool on the lake. Cross-body bags or fanny packs are recommended because there is no lockable area for purses or bags. And, be sure to leave your stilettos at home and wear comfortable shoes.


The Toronto International Boat Show is the largest indoor boat show in North America. It kicks off with Preview Day on Friday, January 17th, when the industry gets ready to showcase over 1,200 new boats and the latest in marine accessories.

NEW for 2020: Meet undersea explorers Darrell Miklos and Jim Sinclair, stars of the Discovery Channel hit series, Cooper’s Treasure. Fans and curious adventurers alike will be fascinated by their explorations that follow secret maps created in the 1960s by former NASA astronaut Gordon Cooper. Special appearances only on Preview Day and January 18 & 19.

Families will be excited for the stacked line-up featuring the return of Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel, The Great Canadian Fish Tank, Kids Trout Pond, Free Boat Rides, all-new Winter Wake Fest and Water Ski Shows on the world’s largest indoor lake…and more. Show runs January 17-26. Free admission for kids under 16.


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