DRAGON BOAT CANADA
COURSES
All the information on DBC Certification program.
Contact your regional Course facilitators to inquire about courses.
Please note that any pre-requisites must be complete before registering for a DBC course.
WESTERN
REGION
Kamini Jain
-Vancouver-
(Instructor, Coach Level 1 – 3 & Steering)
Andrea Dillon
-Vancouver-
(Instructor, Coach Level 1 – 3 & Steering)
Tom Arnold
-Victoria-
(Instructor, Coach Level 1 – 3 & Steering)
Lauria MacDougall
-Edmonton-
(Coach Level 2)
Darwin Li
-Edmonton-
(Instructor)
Cyril Balitbit
-Edmonton-
(Coach 1 & Safe Steering)
Brent Lee
-Calgary-
(Safe Steering)
Karen Johnson
-Lethbridge-
(Instructor)
Dave Hunt
-Lethbridge-
(Safe Steering)
CENTRAL
REGION
Ann Forbes Arndt
-Hamilton-
(Steering)
Brad Bridger
-Toronto-
(Steering)
Cheryl Shannon
-Quinte ON-
(Steering & Coach Level 1)
Natacha Tremblay
-Ottawa-
(Coach 1)
Gabe de Puyjalon
-Ottawa-
(Safe Steering & Instructor)
EASTERN
REGION
Matt Robert
-Montreal-
(Steering, Instructor, Level 1, Level 2 & Level 3)
Albert MacDonald
-Nova Scotia-
(Community & Competitive)
Dan Levine
-Montreal-
(Steering)
Daniel Schmouth
-Montreal-
(Level 1)
Pierre-Olivier Girard
-Montreal-
(Instructor)
SAFE STEERING ACCREDITATION
This course will ensure your steersperson has the skills required to confidently steer races.
Accreditation requirements include course attendance, successful display of required skills acquisition, proof of Safe Sport, Pleasure Craft Operators License and First Aid Certification.
This full day course features:
- low instructor : participant ratio
- in-class theory and on-water application
- highly skilled, experienced and knowledgeable facilitators.
Skills taught, practiced and tested will include:
- crew commands and vocabulary
- forward and reverse steering
- left and right turns
- arriving and departing docks
- race situations.
Volunteer paddlers will be utilized whenever possible to ensure maximum experience at the helm.
This course is conducted by organizations and instructors that have been certified by Dragon Boat Canada. Contact DBC for more information.
SAFE STEERING
WESTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Kamini Jain
DATE: In Class (Virtual) February 20, 2026. 18:00 to 20:00 Pacific
On water (in person required) May 31, 2026. 12:00 to 15:00 Pacific
LOCATION: Vancouver
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
REGISTRATION: By Email
FACILITATOR: Brent Lee
DATE: Virtual in class April 23, 2026 on water date TBC
LOCATION: Calgary Dragon Boat, Calgary AB
FEE: $150
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
SAFE STEERING
CENTRAL
REGION
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
SAFE STEERING
EASTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Daniel Levine, Pierre-Olivier Girard and Sylvain Laberge
DATE: May 3rd from 9am to 4pm
LOCATION: Parc Jean Drapeau
COST: $155
REGISTRATION: Register Here
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
INSTRUCTOR
This course is for the individual who wants to learn how to steer and who instructs at such programs as “corporate days”, school groups, teams participating in fundraisers, works with a team for 1-3 practices then attends one local festival.
Course includes a Steering and Instructing components. Successful candidates will also receive Safe Steering accreditation upon full completion of all requirements.
Accreditation requirements include course attendance, successful completion of assignment, proof of Pleasure Craft Operators License, current Safe Sport Training, Safe Steering and proof of current Emergency First Aid.
INSTRUCTOR
WESTERN
REGION
REGISTRATION: By Email
FACILITATOR: Tom Arnold
DATE: Spring dates coming soon!
LOCATION: Victoria
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
REGISTRATION: By Email
FACILITATOR: Cyril Balitbit
DATE: Spring dates coming soon!
LOCATION: Edmonton Dragon Boat Club, Edmonton AB
FEE:
REGISTRATION: cyril.balitbit@gmail.com
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
INSTRUCTOR
CENTRAL
REGION
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
INSTRUCTOR
EASTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Pieere-Olivier Girard
DATE: May end and 3rd, 2026 from 9am to 4pm
LOCATION: Quartier de Athlètes Parc Jean Drapeau
COST: $250
REGISTRATION: Register Here
Note: Both in class and on water sessions
FESTIVAL OFFICIAL
This course is designed for new and existing dragon boat Officials with an overview to achieve the Level 1 accreditation. Managers and steerspersons will find this course to be invaluable.
The Dragon Boat Canada Officials Level 1 Course gives general knowledge of the Dragon Boat Canada competition regulations, rules of racing, 2000m racing rules and course setup, protests, roles and duties of each Race Officials position, race grid progression, safety, situation analysis and discussion.
Case scenarios discussion will provide an opportunity for application and interpretation of the rules of racing. Upon successful completion, Officials will receive Officials Level 1 certification upon completion of the course and Safe Sport.
Contact DBC to arrange a course for your club, festival or area!
OFFICIAL
WESTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: TBD
DATE: Spring dates will be announced soon.
LOCATION:
REGISTRATION: N/A
OFFICIAL
CENTRAL
REGION
Cost:
REGISTRATION:
OFFICIAL
EASTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Matt Robert
DATE: January 25, 2026
LOCATION: Montreal
COST: Contact registration for more information
REGISTRATION
Level 1
LEVEL 1 COACHING
DRAGON BOAT
The course is intended for anyone interested in entry level coaching.
Some of the material covered in the course includes: safety, ethics in coaching, coach-athlete communication, basic dragon boat technique, basic physiological requirements of dragon boat racing, race planning, practice planning, etc. Accreditation requirements include course attendance, successful completion of assignment, proof of Pleasure Craft Operators License, current Safe Sport Training, Safe Steering and proof of current Emergency First Aid.
LEVEL 1 and INSTRUCTOR
WESTERN
REGION
LEVEL 1 FACILITATOR: Kamini Jain
DATE: New dates coming soon!
LOCATION: Virtual
COST: $225
REGISTRATION
INSTRUCTOR FACILITATOR:
Darwin Li
DATE: Spring dates coming soon!
LOCATION: Leduc AB
COST:
REGISTRATION: Register HereKam
LEVEL 1
CENTRAL
REGION (t)
FACILITATOR: Natacha Tremblay
DATE: February 21 (10:00am – 18:00) & 22 (07:30-15:30), 2026
LOCATION: Ottawa ON
COST: $200
FACILITATOR: Cheryl Shannon
DATE: February 21 & 22, 2026 – registration deadline February 14, 2026
LOCATION: Toronto, ON
COST: $225
LEVEL 1
EASTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Daniel Schmouth
DATE: January 31st – February 1st, 2026 9am – 4pm eastern
LOCATION: Quartier de Athletes, Parc Jean Drapeau
COST: $250
Level 2
LEVEL 2 COACHING
DRAGON BOAT
PREREQUISITES: Coaching Community or Level 1 Dragon Boat Accredited (includes DBC course and successful evaluation of assignment), pleasure craft operators license, current Emergency First Aid, Safe Steering and current SafeSport. In order to register for the Coach Level 2 course, individuals must be accredited and meet all pre-requites. Courses must be taken in order (Level 1 then Level 2). Accreditation will not be granted out of order. If you are unsure about your eligibility for Coaching Competitive Dragon Boat, contact Dragon Boat Canada.
This 16 hour course is intended for anyone coaching competitive crews training twice a week or more on and off the water, crews competing at provincial events, the National Championships and perhaps with a view to the Club Crew World Championships. After this course, coaches will have the tools to develop all aspects of year-round training programs including, advanced technical instruction, principles of training, mental preparation, testing and selection, and much much more.
LEVEL 2
WESTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Kamini Jain
DATE: January 10-11, 2026
LOCATION: Virtual
Cost: $275 + tax
REGISTRATION: Visit Website
LEVEL 2
CENTRAL
REGION
FACILITATOR:
Date: Course dates will be announced soon
Location:
Cost:
REGISTER HERE
LEVEL 2
EASTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Matt Robert
DATE: Jnaury 17-18, 2026
LOCATION: Canal Fitness, Montreal
COST:
REGISTRATION
Level 3
LEVEL 3 COACHING
DRAGON BOAT
PREREQUISITES: Coaching Community or Level 1 Dragon Boat Accredited (includes DBC course and successful evaluation of assignment), pleasure craft operators license, current Emergency First Aid, Safe Steering and current SafeSport. In order to register for the Coach Level 2 course, individuals must be accredited and meet all pre-requites. Courses must be taken in order (Level 1 then Level 2). Accreditation will not be granted out of order. If you are unsure about your eligibility for Coaching Competitive Dragon Boat, contact Dragon Boat Canada.
This 16 hour course is intended for anyone coaching competitive crews training twice a week or more on and off the water, crews competing at provincial events, the National Championships and perhaps with a view to the Club Crew World Championships. After this course, coaches will have the tools to develop all aspects of year-round training programs including, advanced technical instruction, principles of training, mental preparation, testing and selection, and much much more.
LEVEL 3
WESTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Kamini Jain
DATE: February 7-8, 2026
LOCATION: Virtual
Cost: $299 + tax
REGISTRATION: Visit Website
LEVEL 3
CENTRAL
REGION
FACILITATOR:
Date: Course dates will be announced soon
Location:
Cost:
REGISTER HERE
LEVEL 3
EASTERN
REGION
FACILITATOR: Matt Robert
DATE: dates will be announced soon.
LOCATION: Canal Fitness, Montreal
COST:
REGISTRATION: Visit Website