By: Scott Way
Boaters gearing up for the summer season need to check their flares. Any boater with flares onboard should be reminded they have a shelf life of four years, meaning any flares manufactured prior to 2018 are due to be replaced.
Since flares are comprised of hazardous materials they can't be thrown in household garbage. They must be disposed of through a hazardous materials waste site.
For Canadian boaters, Transport Canada and the Canadian Power & Sail Squadron have partnered to offer a running list of disposal sites in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. Boaters are able to dispose of their expired flares at these locations on preset days throughout April, May, and June.
For U.S boaters, you can check your flare requirements from the U.S Coast Guard's Recreational Boating Guide. Canadians can confirm their flare requirements with the Canadian Safe Boating Guide.
The full list of Canadian locations from CPS is below:
April 21-24 The Rigging Shoppe 44 Midwest Rd, Scarborough, ON M1P 3A9 Toronto Power and Sail Squadron
April 30 Inlet Marine 4-850 Barnet Hwy, Port Moody, BC V3H 1V6 Port Moody Power and Sail Squadron
Cabela's 6902 North, Island Hwy N, Nanaimo, BC V9V 1P6 Nanaimo Power and Sail Squadron
Steveston Marine and Hardware 19700 Langley Bypass #201, Langley, BC V3A 7B1 Langley Power and Sail Squadron
Trotac Marine 370 Gorge Rd E, Victoria, BC V8T 2W2 Victoria Power and Sail Squadron
May 14 Bayfield Marine 23 Fishermans Wharf Rd, Bayfield, ON N0M 1G0 Goderich Power and Sail Squadron
Pices Marine Ltd 441 Wyecroft Rd, Oakville, ON L6K 2H2 Oakville Power and Sail Squadron
Steveston Marine and Hardware 8331 River Rd Richmond BC V6X 1Y1 Fraser Power and Sail Squadron
Steveston Marine and Hardware 1667 W 5th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1N5 Vancouver Power and Sail Squadron
May 21 Lakes Marine Supply 5968 Trans Canada Hwy Duncan, BC, V9L 6C8 Cowichan Power and Sail Squadron
Robinson Home Hardware 138 Penetanguishene Rd, Barrie, ON L4M 7C3 Barrie Power and Sail Squadron
May 28 Bitter End Boat Exchange 1044 Seamount Way, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V7 Sunshine Coast Power and Sail Squadron
L'Entrepot Marine 800c Boulevard Maloney E, Gatineau, QC J8P 1G5 St Lawrence District
Wye Heritage Marina 3282 Ogdens Beach Rd, Midland, ON L4R 4K6 Penetanguishene Power and Sail Squadron
June 4 Port Whitby Marine Supplies 1636 Charles St #2, Whitby, ON L1N 1B9 Oshawa Power and Sail Squadron
Bay Port Marina 156 Marina Park Ave, Midland, ON L4R 4P4 Midland Power and Sail Squadron
June 11 Marina Del Ray 4130 Bayview Ave, Ramara, ON L3V 0S2 Orillia Power and Sail Squadron
Collins Bay Marina 1270 Coverdale Dr, Kingston, ON K7M 8X7 Kingston 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 St, Parry Sound, ON P2A 2X3 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 Squadron
October 6-8 The Rigging Shoppe 44 Midwest Rd, Scarborough, ON M1P 3A9 Toronto Power and Sail Squadron
