2022-May-03
Flare Disposal Days Are Back
Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS-ECP) are once again teaming up with Transport Canada and CIL Dealers to undertake a project on education and awareness of safety equipment, the care and maintenance of that equipment and how to safely and effectively use and dispose of flares.
Have Your Flares Expired?
If your flares have a manufacture date of 2018 or earlier they have or will expire this year. You can’t light them, throw them in the water or in your household garbage to dispose of them. Even when they expire they are extremely dangerous and toxic.
Disposing of expired flares has been an ongoing dilemma for boaters across the country. To help boaters dispose of expired flares in a safe and environmentally responsible manner CPS-ECP and selected CIL Dealers are hosting Safety Equipment Education and Flare Disposal Days. On these days, you will be offered the opportunity to learn about required safety equipment and you can bring your outdated marine flares to be properly disposed of, free of charge.
Flares are only accepted directly from the recreational boating public. Flares will not be accepted from any companies, organizations, service clubs or municipalities.
This year there are 6 locations on Georgian Bay, including:
- May 28 – Wye Heritage Marina
3282 Ogdens Beach Rd, Midland, ON L4R 4K6
Penetanguishene Power and Sail Squadron - June 4 – Bay Port Marina
156 Marina Park Ave, Midland, ON L4R 4P4
Midland Power and Sail Squadron - June 18 – Beacon Bay Marina
1-37 Champlain Rd, Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1S1
Penetanguishene Power and Sail Squadron - July 2 – Sound Boat Works
73 Emily Street, Parry Sound, ON. P2A 2X3
Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron - July 2 – Beacon Marine
60 S Shore Rd, Pointe au Baril, ON P0G 1K0
Parry Sound Power and Sail Squadron - September 17 – Sudbury Hearth and Home
827 Barry Downe Rd, Greater Sudbury, ON P3A 1L3
Sudbury Power and Sail SquadronSept 17 – Sudbury Hearth & Home, Barry Downs Rd. Sudbury
*Other Ontario flare exchange locations, including some in the GTA can be found here.
Looking to Upgrade from Traditional Flares?
Transport Canada (TC) recently approved the use of electronic visual distress signal devices (eVDSD) in lieu of traditional pyrotechnic distress signals (flares) in pleasure crafts longer than six metres. eVDSDs are more expensive than traditional flares, but they are safer to use, especially for the inexperienced, and they solve the messy disposal problem with traditional flares.
The eVDSD must be certified to the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) standard 13200.0 and must be accompanied by a TC approved smoke signal for daytime alerting. Compliant devices must be labelled with the statement, “Complies with RTCM Standard 13200.0 for an eVDSD”. If a device doesn’t include this statement, it is not an accepted alternative to pyrotechnic distress signals.
Here are two certified units that are available for purchase in Canada:
- Sirius Signal #C-1002 Electronic Visual Distress Signal
- Sirius Signal SOS LED Electronic Visual Distress Signal
Read more about the eVDSD regulations here and watch a short video on approved eVDSDs here: