Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS) is a non-profit boating education organization with over 26,000 members across Canada. CPS offers various boating courses taught by volunteer instructors to promote safe boating. Course topics include navigation, weather, maintenance, and more. Members receive discounts on boating equipment and insurance. CPS has been educating boaters for 75 years and invites all to take a course and advance their boating knowledge.

1. Photos: Mustang Survival
Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons
Presentation to:
[Yacht Club Name]

2. Who is Canadian
Power and Sail
Squadrons?

3. Mission Statement
To increase awareness and knowledge of safe boating by educating
and training members and the general public, by fostering fellowship
among members, and by establishing partnerships and alliances with
organizations and agencies interested in boating.
Photo: Jeff Evans

4. Photo: Don Butt
Celebrating 75 Years
CPS began in 1938 as Canadian Power Squadrons and organized along
the same lines as the United States Power Squadrons. In 2013, the
organization will celebrate its 75th Anniversary.

5. Photo: Jeanette Gordon
Across Canada
CPS is a non-profit organization that has been bringing boaters together
for 75 years. CPS has 26,000 members in 155 Squadrons across
Canada.

6. Photo: Vanessa Schmidt
Headquarters
CPS has 12 paid staff at its Toronto Headquarters to assist in course
material production, warehousing, membership, PR, shipping and
liaison with the Government Organizations

7. Photo: Penny Carpenter
CPS instructors are boaters too
All instructors and members who run or help in local Squadrons and
Districts, are volunteers and take their responsibility seriously. They have
taken courses such as Instructor Development and Officer Training.

8. Photo: Vanessa Schmidt
FREE Courtesy Checks
Get a Courtesy Check from a CPS Boating Safety Specialist at your
yacht club or launch ramp and verify that you have all the required safety
equipment on board.

9. Photo: Bruce Leavitt
How to become a CPS Member
There are two levels of membership: Regular and Associate

10. Regular Members
Graduates of the CPS Boating Course become Regular Members.
Regular Members can fly the CPS flag.
Associate Members
Graduates of Boating Basics or the Pleasure Craft Operator Card test
become Associate Members.
Both types of membership have access to the same Member
Benefits.

11. Equivalences
CPS also recognizes certain course equivalences from:
-Canadian Yachting Association
-Association Maritime du Québec
-United States Power Squadrons
-Transport Canada Certified Professional Mariners, Navigators
You must present copies of your course completion certificates to be
considered for membership at CPS.
CPS does admit holders of Pleasure Craft Operator Cards from
other organizations.

12. CPS Member Benefits and Discounts
Cowan Boat Insurance Salus Marine Wear 15%
Members save 10%
Additional Savings Available Icom Canada Marine Radios
Includes Identity Theft protection
Natural Marine products
Canadian Yachting magazine
subscription C-Tow 33% discount
Boat US 50% + West Marine Fortress Anchors
chandleries
Delta Hotels, National Car
Ports Cruising Guides 25% Rental and RONA 10% discount
Weems and Plath 25%

13. Photo: Jeanette Gordon
CPS Boating Courses
CPS has been offering boating courses long before they were
mandatory. Introductory, Advanced, Electronics, Marine Radio, Flares
and Elective courses are available.

14. Boating Basics
Pleasure Craft Operator Card Course
Short course to obtain PCOC. Topics
include: knowing and equipping your boat,
safety, marine rules of the road, aids to
navigation, trailering, anchoring, docking,
licensing, registration, hypothermia,
recovery and fire procedures.
Youth Course available for ages 8-14
-Transport Canada Approved
-NASBLA Approved
-Recognized by US Coast Guard

15. Boating Basics Online http://www.cps-ecp.ca/pcoc/
Pleasure Craft Operator Card Course

16. Boating Essentials
Cruise with confidence
Topics include: the magnetic compass, global
positioning and charts, navigation, conning,
plotting, digital charting, anchoring, lines and
ropes, electrical hazards, towing, boating and
the environment, and more.
Duration: 8–10 weeks, 1 night per week
Recommended prerequisite: PCOC
Combine this course with any PCOC to
become a Regular CPS Member.

17. Seamanship
Take the next step
Topics include: hazards of weather, wind,
waves, tides and tidal currents and how to deal
with them. Life-threatening situations such as
man overboard or a medical emergency. Learn
the ropes, from knots and hitches to bends and
splices.
Duration: 10-12 weeks, 1 night per week
Recommended Prerequisite: PCOC and
Boating Essentials

18. Advanced Piloting
Navigating beyond the horizon
Topics include: coastal navigation for short trips
offshore, positioning and plotting, tidal waters,
currents, positioning with electronics and
traditional methods Piloting skills.
Duration: 10-12 weeks, 1 night per week
Recommended Prerequisite: Seamanship

19. Junior Navigator and Navigator
Let the sky be your guide
Junior Navigator is the first of a two-part
program of study in offshore (open coast)
navigation.
Recommended Prerequisite: Advanced Piloting
Navigator is the second part of the study of
offshore navigation. It further develops the
student's skills and understanding of celestial
theory.
Recommended Prerequisite: Junior Navigator
Duration: 12-14 weeks each course,
1 night per week

20. Electronic Navigation
Upgrade your skills from paper to pixel
Topics include the features, capabilities and uses
of electronic charts and the variety of ways they
are available – from chartplotters, PDAs, tablets,
laptop and computers. Positioning, course
planning and real speed/direction.
This course comes with a CD including a
complimentary Maptech computer navigation
program, electronic chart samples and GPS
simulator.
Duration: 6-8 weeks, 1 night per week

21. Maritime Radio
Secure your lifeline today
To operate a maritime radio, you need the
certificate. It's the law! The Maritime Radio
course teaches emergency radio procedures,
and everyday operating techniques.
Learn all about the uses of marine radios, choice
of frequencies, operation, phonetic alphabet,
procedural words and phrases, as well as Digital
Selective Calling and the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System.
Duration: 8 hours

22. Weather
Forecast the weather beyond ‘red sky at night’
Fundamentals of Weather
Covers many aspects of the formation and
behavior of weather, presented in a
straightforward manner. With practice, you will
develop the skills to make short term forecasts.
Global Weather
Global Weather expands on concepts introduced
in the Fundamentals of Weather. Work with
measurements such as air pressure,
temperature, dew point and wind direction/speed
to sharpen your forecasting skills.

23. Sailing
Understand the theory and practice of sailing
Emphasis is placed on how a sailboat works and
the special terminology associated with
sailboats, sailing, and practical seamanship.
There is no chart work or navigation. The
particular problems of piloting under sail, and
making progress to windward are discussed.
Duration: 6-8 weeks, 1 night per week

24. Extended Cruising
Gain the skills required to reach distant shores
This course provides the seasoned cruiser with
skills such as passage planning and execution,
oceanography and weather, and instrumentation.
Learn also how to deal with adverse conditions.
Duration: 9-10 weeks, 1 night per week

25. Boat and Engine Maintenance
Keeping your boat in Bristol condition
From spark plugs to bottom paint, this two part
course covers all the DIY basics for boaters. Plus
all aspects of maintaining and repairing your boat
in all seasons.
You will learn how to safely handle mechanical
emergencies afloat.
Duration: 10-12 weeks, 1 night per week

26. Radar for Pleasure Craft
better than 20/20 vision
This course covers the different types of
equipment, their capabilities and limitations.
Understand the available features and how they
apply to your needs.
Learn to navigate using radar and to determine
where you are.
Duration: 3-4 weeks, 1 night per week

27. Testimonials
What recent grads are saying about CPS
“great course, user friendly, helpful proctors, would like to take more
courses, great information, good value”
“really enjoyed the course, would encourage others to take it, super fun,
helpful, ran on time, great group”
“great course presentation, easy to follow along, student cruise was
valuable and fun, dedicated volunteers”
“very informative even if you don't have a boat, everyone was very
helpful and entertaining, really interesting, a new "expert" every week”

28. You’re Invited!
We invite all boaters to increase their skills and promote safety on the
water by accessing training.
CPS is a great resource for off-season training.
[Squadron Name] and other local squadrons have many choices of
courses.

29. Register Today! www.cpsboat.ca
Select course calendar from the home page
Sort by squadron, district, course, timing

30. Contact us
Phone: (416) 293-2438 or 1-888-CPS-BOAT
Website is www.cpsboat.ca
Local Squadrons also have websites
[Squadron site]
Connect with us
youtube.com/CPSECP
facebook.com/cpsboat
twitter.com/cpsboat

31. Have fun on the water and stay safe!