The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Canada is launching Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training for the first time in Canada, a national program to educate Canadians to become confident and safe boaters. It will provide both new and experienced boaters the opportunity to get behind the helm and receive on-water training on proper boat handling. Canadians can get their feet wet at the Montreal In-Water Boat Show September 5-7, 2014, the Toronto International Boat Show January 10-18, 2015 and the Vancouver International Boat Show January 21-25, 2015. The program has been successfully offered by NMMA at dozens of boat shows throughout the United States and has helped train thousands of boaters.
“NMMA strongly supports and encourages boater education. An educated boater is a safe boater.” said Sara Anghel, executive director/vice-president government relations NMMA Canada. “On-water training is one of the best ways for new boaters to learn the skills needed to boat safely and with confidence. When you’re more confident on the water, you have more fun and we believe this program can help create a better boating experience all around.”
Discover Boating, a national program to help introduce people to boating and managed by the NMMA, recently completed trainer orientation sessions in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver in preparation for the program’s launch at boat shows this winter. These sessions prepared the trainers for their work in the Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training program so that they can begin to offer these on-water educational modules to consumers.
The Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training program has been adapted for Canada in English and French and will feature instruction by boating experts on a variety of boating curriculum. Registration for HOST is currently available for the Montreal In-Water Boat Show September 5-7, 2014 here.
Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training has received $87,225 in funding from Transport Canada to support the 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.