The Ontario Chinese Anglers Association (OCAA) is teaching a boating safety course in Chinese, which will prepare you to write the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) exam. The in-class course is 7 hours long with 2 classes of 3 1/2 hour sessions. The multiple choice exam is written on the last day of classes at the end of the course. This is not a hands on course operating a boat.

The PCOC is not a boater licence like a driver licence. The PCOC is a boater's proof of competency to prove to police that you have passed a boat safety course. As of September 15, 2009, the PCOC is now required by law for those who operator a boat in Canada except the Northwest Territories and Nunavut . The boat operator must carry on them their PCOC. There is a $250 fine plus administrative charge for those persons caught operating a boat without their PCOC card. You do not require a PCOC to operate a daily rental fishing boat. In this case, you will complete a rental boat safety checklist instead of possessing a PCOC. Regardless, it is a good idea to have a PCOC. You require a PCOC if you are operating a privately owned boat.

Click on the link below for course information printed in Chinese.

http://www.smartanglers.com/main/sites/default/files/Boat_course_flyer[1]_0.pdf

Where: Times Square located at NW corner of Highway 7 East and Leslie, Markham, ON, Room 325. In the same building as Thrity/Dollar Rent a Car on ground floor. Closet driveway entrance is westbound Highway 7 East.

Time: 6:30pm - 10:00pm