Canadian Boating Trainer Orientation Begins

Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training (HOST) has kicked off in Canada with trainer orientation sessions that took place in July in Toronto and Montreal, and in early August in Vancouver. The main objective of these sessions was to share with existing on-water educators the key aspects of the HOST curriculum and how they can approach communicating safe boating practices to a broader range of boaters and potential boaters.

Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training has five core modules that provide boaters of all experience levels practical education to boat safely and confidently on the water, and will be available in Canada for the first time from 2014-2016 at the Montreal In-Water Boat Show, Toronto International Boat Show and Vancouver International Boat Show.

Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training offers many benefits to boaters and to the industry by creating safer waterways and helping new and aspiring boaters gain confidence to get behind the helm.

These trainer orientation sessions were also leveraged as PR opportunities to promote the launch of HOST in Canada. Media outlets that attended include OMNI television, CTV, Le Guide du Bateau and Le Canada Français.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Canada earlier this spring announced it has received $87,225 in funding from Transport Canada to support the Discover Boating HOST program for three years. The funding stems from Transport Canada’s Boating Safety Contribution Program (BSCP), which aims to increase the number of boaters who follow safe boating practices