For more than four decades, the Humber Sailing and Power Boating Centre was a distinctive feature of Lakeshore Campus where it blended experiential learning, community engagement and waterfront access into one of Canada’s most established collegiate sailing programs. Operating from 1972 until its closure in 2015, the program grew from a modest continuing education offering into a nationally recognized sailing school and a source of revenue generation for Humber.
The sailing program began in 1972 as part of Humber’s Business and Industry Services (today part of the Continuous Professional Learning), reflecting the institution’s early commitment to leisure education and non-traditional learning opportunities. At a time when sailing was often perceived as an elite pastime, Humber emphasized accessibility. The courses were open to the public, affordable compared to private sailing schools and designed for beginners as well as experienced sailors. Instruction ranged from introductory dinghy sailing to advanced keelboat cruising, navigation and seamanship with students earning certifications from the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA).
By the mid-1980s, enrolment had surged. Annual participation exceeded 1,000 students, prompting significant infrastructure investment. In 1986, Humber’s Board of Governors approved $39,000 toward improvements at Humber Bay West Waterfront Park including a portable classroom, washrooms, storage facilities, a boat launch ramp and roadway access. Scott Hughes, long-time director of sailing, noted that the program was financially self-sustaining, operating as a separate business unit with no reliance on public funding.
The program’s physical footprint expanded as well. In addition to Humber Bay Park West, Colonel Samuel Smith Park was leased from the City of Toronto to serve as an additional sailing centre, allowing the Keelboat Sailing Club to relocate and freeing up space for instructional classes. This expansion supported one of the program’s most popular offerings: the Keelboat Sailing Club, which provided members access to 25 to 30-foot boats without the prohibitive costs of ownership. For an annual fee, members could sail seven days a week throughout the season.
Learning beyond the classroom
The Humber Sailing and Power Boating Centre was both recreational and pedagogical. Students learned far more than how to handle a boat; training included VHF radio operation, emergency procedures, navigation, and teamwork. The program also played a role in Humber’s broader academic ecosystem. Many sailing students went on to enrol in other Humber programs, using the centre as an entry point to further education.
The centre’s reputation extended beyond recreational sailing. Humber was the only community college to compete in the Canadian Intercollegiate Sailing Championships in the late 1970s, holding its own against Ontario universities and placing second in overall qualifying standings. The sailing program was also integrated into other initiatives, including Elderhostel programs for seniors and Harbourfront courses designed for Toronto’s boating community.
By 1997, Humber had celebrated 25 years of sailing success. At that point, the centre was one of the largest sailing schools in Canada, operating up to 80 hours a week during peak season and serving hundreds of students annually. Courses included dinghy and keelboat instruction at all levels, as well as a junior sailing program for participants aged 9–18.
Despite its success, shifting economic realities eventually caught up with the program. Declining enrolment in both summer and winter courses, coupled with rising equipment and maintenance costs, made operations increasingly unsustainable. Following an operational and financial review, Humber announced the closure of the Sailing and Power Boating Centre on October 8, 2015.
The closure marked the end of an era for Humber and the Lakeshore waterfront. For decades, the sailing centre offered hands-on learning, community connection and a rare opportunity for urban students to experience life on the water. While the boats have been sold and the classrooms dismantled, the legacy of Humber’s sailing program remains an important chapter in the institution’s history – one defined by innovation, accessibility and a commitment to learning beyond the traditional classroom.