Club wins at Toronto boat show, GLCC meetup

By Eric Sunstrum, Rear Commodore and Port Captain 

For many Great Lakes Cruising Club members, the Toronto International Boat Show is a welcome winter tradition. It’s a chance to escape the cold, see the latest in boating, and maybe pick up some new gear. But beyond the boats and gadgets, the show is also an important opportunity for the GLCC to connect with prospective members who are looking to expand their Great Lakes cruising experiences. 

Rear Commodore David Spencer again coordinated a team of GLCC volunteers who shared their enthusiasm for the club and its many activities. During the 10-day show, 31 members took turns staffing the GLCC booth, answering questions, and promoting the benefits of membership.  

The Toronto International Boat Show remains the largest indoor boat show in North America, and it’s only through the dedication of club volunteers that the GLCC has maintained a strong presence there for more than 20 years. 

In addition to the impressive display of new boats and marine products, the show offers a wide range of educational seminars. These sessions give attendees a chance to rest their feet (and wallets) while picking up valuable cruising knowledge. 

Expert GLCC members presented a series of well-received talks, covering a variety of Great Lakes cruising destinations, including Lake Erie, the North Channel, eastern Georgian Bay and the 30,000 Islands, the Bay of Quinte and Thousand Islands, Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and the Great Loop. 

A highlight of the week was the annual GLCC Members Meetup, on the second Friday of the show, at the National Yacht Club. Now in its third year, this gathering brought together about 45 members for an evening of camaraderie, shared experiences, and plans for the coming boating season. The National Yacht Club once again provided a welcoming atmosphere and fine food. 

Special thanks go to Port Captain Cynthia Sunstrum, Port Captain Mary and Wes Micket, Yvonne and Lynn of the GLCC office for organizing the meetup, as well as Commodore Joe and Karen McKeown for joining the group in Toronto. 

GLCC Toronto boat show volunteers this year were Julie and Tony Pehoski, Barbara Sylvestre-Williams, Susan Reid, Andrew Mizen, Perry Lovelace, Brian Stewart, Jane Witherspoon, Robert Wightman, Bill and Helen Ayre, Nigel and Eileen Banks, Ronan Oliver, Bill Bailey, Tom and Janet Stone, Karl Lahm, Denise Moline, Jeff Stewart, Karl Lahm, Denise Moline, Mary and Wes Micket, George and Mary Thor, Dave and Kathy Spencer, Alasdair (NOTE: SHOULD THIS BE ALASTAIR?) Fenton, and Eric and Cynthia Sunstrum. 

Thank-yous go to GLCC seminar presenters: Roy Eaton – Summer in Paradise: The Fabled North Channel and Northern Georgian Bay; Mark Gagyi – Lake Erie: Our Great Lakes Southern Gem;  Cam and Heather Stevens – Living the Great Loop Adventure; David Spencer – Cruising the Best of Georgian Bay; Eric Sunstrum – Cruising the Bay of Quinte and the Thousand Islands; Denette and Greg Ellard – Cruising Lake Superior; and Jeff Evans - Exploring Ontario’s West Coast - Lake Huron’s Boating Destinations. 

The 2025 Toronto International Boat Show was another success for the GLCC. Thanks go to the club’s volunteers, speakers, and members who attended.  

(Photo Credits Wes Micket and David Spencer)