Halifax Hosts International Sail Training Conference for First Time

Close to 370 tall ship owners, operators and sail trainees are in Halifax today, Nov. 14, for the 2008 International Sail Training and Tall Ships Conference. Two thirds of the delegates, from 26 countries, are attending from outside North America.

Delegates include youth sail trainers and representatives from ports that host Tall Ships events. This is the first time the conference has been held outside Europe.

The conference, which runs today and Saturday, is also the first joint Sail Training International and American Sail Training Association annual conference.

Premier Rodney MacDonald will open the conference and a resolution acknowledging the significance of the conference will be read in the legislature.

"Tall ships occupy a important place in our province's history and tall ships festivals continue to inspire Nova Scotians, just as they attract thousands of visitors and contribute to our economy," said Premier MacDonald. "We're very pleased to welcome delegates from around the world to this conference, and look forward to the festival this summer."

Keynote speaker, World Ocean Observatory director Peter Neill, is also executive director of the Ocean Classroom Foundation that owns and operates three sail training schooners. Mr. Neill will take the stage from at 9 a.m. and later join the panel discussion Delivering Sail Training as Part of a Long-term Personal Development Program.

"Welcoming this world-class conference to our waterfronts for the first time speaks to the knowledge base and experience that we have right here in Nova Scotia," says Colin MacLean, president and CEO of Waterfront Development Corporation Limited. "Sharing real-life examples of what works well, what doesn't, and building those contacts is priceless."

Agenda topics range from medicine at sea and effective sail training programs to search and rescue case studies and a session for young sail trainers and Halifax paralympic gold medalist, Paul Tingley, who will speak on the final day of the conference.

The conference, at the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, will conclude with presentation of 2008 Sail Training Awards and the gala dinner, hosted by the Waterfront Development Corporation Limited.

Visit www.sailtraining.org/events/conference for more information and the agenda.

The Waterfront Development Corporation Limited is a provincial Crown corporation that plans, co-ordinates, promotes and develops properties, events and activities on designated waterfronts around Halifax Harbour.