Tom Stevinson Bursary

We are pleased to announce that Tom Stevinson's estate, in fulfilling his wishes, has made a very generous donation to the Club to be used to provide an annual Bursary to the Sailing School. This bursary will cover one tuition for one full season of sessions for at least the next 25 years.

Tom Stevinson Memorial Bursary for Sailing School at Brockville Yacht Club

In Memory of Tom Stevinson 1950-2022

In 1979, Tom bought a Siren sailboat, a 17 ft. cruising boat built in Owen Sound, joined the Brockville Yacht Club, and went to Sailing School there. He began to crew for racing, and in doing so found a passion that he continued until the summer before his death from glioblastoma. He was an excellent crew member who specialized in foredeck position but could fill any role and was in demand as crew for regattas and other events. He crewed on the Tall Ship Mist of Avalon which was at the time berthed in Ivy Lea, sailing on it around PEI, in the Halifax parade of Tall Ships, and around Cape Breton and the Northumberland Strait coast of Nova Scotia. In his work life, Tom was a mechanical engineer, a creative person who could fix anything and loved to solve problems. He remembered all the math and physics he had learned in school, enjoyed tutoring the children of friends, and used his solid knowledge of physics in sailing. He loved to be helpful to others and was a true gentleman and an excellent listener. He enjoyed Astronomy and had a boyish enthusiasm for everything. It would be his hope that recipients of this bursary for sailing lessons would learn and enjoy sailing, and contribute their skills to others.

If you have a youth sailor or know of a youth sailor who would benefit from a bursary to access our sailing program at the Brockville Yacht Club please reach out to Terry Gardiner – Sailing Director terrygardinersail@gmail.com