Scarborough, ON (August 8, 2011) – Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS) and Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) announce a new partnership to grant CYA, in conjunction with the Provincial Associations and its qualified affiliated instructors, permission to offer the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) classroom education using the CPS Boating Basics Transport Canada approved manual and related materials. The agreement was signed in Kingston on June 8, 2011.

Combined, these two national organizations provide a comprehensive portfolio of practical and classroom courses for pleasure craft operators on sailing, boat safety and handling, seamanship, navigation, marine weather, communications and electronic navigation through their networks of certified instructors.

Since 2006, CPS and CYA have also had an agreement, allowing CYA to offer the Maritime Radio Course Training and Testing for Industry Canada’s Maritime Radio Operator’s Certificates – ROC(M). CPS has been the sole manager of that program under a letter of authority from the Federal Minister since October 2002.

“CPS is proud to partner with CYA, to deliver training and testing in these two areas of safety for recreational boating,” comments CPS Executive Director Alain Brière. “This new agreement will raise the profile of the need for proper certification and also the ability for recreational boaters to obtain their PCOC.”

The Transport Canada approved Boating Basics Course is offered by CPS through its Squadrons and Registered Providers across Canada as a stand alone course or as part of the CPS Boating Course, both leading to obtaining a PCOC. The new agreement with CYA enhances this program and will reach more boaters in need of a PCOC and more advanced boating skills.

About CPS – CPS-ECP is a volunteer driven non-profit organization founded in 1938 with a longstanding reputation for high-quality education, safety publications and other resources available to its membership. With more than 30,000 members from 160 Squadrons across Canada, members have access to a huge network of new friends, educators and enthusiasts, all of whom recognize that CPS-ECP is the established leader and trend setter for recreational boating in this country. For more information please visit http://www.cps-ecp.ca/  .

About CYA – The Canadian Yachting Association is a non-profit corporation founded in 1931 that acts as the national authority for sailing in Canada and is recognized throughout the world for excellence in training, competition and recreational programs. The CYA vision is to “make sailing and recreational boating lifelong activities for Canadians through excellence in competition and training.” For more information please visit http://www.sailing.ca/  .

For more information contact Alain Briere, Executive Director, Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, 1-888-CPS Boat or Paddy Boyd, Executive Director, Canadian Yachting Association, (613) 545 3044