Courses & Certifications
22Dragons is proud to provide many Dragon Boat Canada courses taught by Matt Robert!
Matt grew up in the Canoe-Kayak world after which he co-founded 22Dragons in 2003. He holds a Bachelors of Education in Physical and Health Education from McGill University of which he makes use of as a coach and course instructor. He was the head coach of the premier open national team in 2013, 2015 and 2017, leading the team to multiple podium finishes. He was the founding coach of 22Dragons’ senior women team who won gold medals at the CCWC.
As an official, he started officiating in 2003 and is now the chief official at 40+ festivals annually.
Upcoming courses
Instructor
Dragon Boat Canada Instructor certification. This two-day course is for any person interested in coaching team bonding activities, corportate events, school field trips, discover-dragon boat events, and fundraising events. Instructors introduce dragon boat to the greater public and are often the ones that will give the first dragon boat impression to potential future paddlers!
What this entails: The instructor course will give the knowledge and hands-on learning required to coach and steer an introductory dragon boat activity. Once you’ve taken this course and completed all required evaluations and certifications, you can start working corporate events and steering local teams!
The Dragon Boat Canada Instructor certification gives you both an Instructor level certificate and a Safe Steering certificate.
Dates: May 9 and 10, 2026
Day 1 will be the theoretical and practical instructor portions of the course. Here, you will learn how to animate an introductory dragon boat activity and learn about the safety considerations and rules of steering a dragon boat. You will also practice leading a group of introductory paddlers with a few simulations.
Day 2 will be the practical portion of the safe steering course. In other words, this is the part of the course where you will learn how to steer a boat. You will be placed in small groups in your own boats so you can take turns learning how to steer with a certified Safe Steering assessor right by your side.
Cost: $250 plus tax
In person delivery: This is a mandatory in person course because hands on learning is required. The theoretical portion of the course will be given at Canal Fitness (5524 Rue Saint-Patrick Unit 150) and the practical portion of the course will be given at the 22Dragons club (5527 Rue Saint-Patrick).
Course facilitator: The instructor course will be facilitated by Eugene Sweetoo. The Safe Steering course will be facilitated by Dan Levine and Eugene Sweetoo.
Eugene has been steering and coaching community and competitive teams at 22Dragons since 2022. He is currently the coach of the Red Pandas, The One, Marianopolis Descendants of the Dragon and one of the coaches of the 22Dragons competitive senior program. He has also coaches and run countless corporate day, school field trips, and dragon boat fundraising activities since he started steering.
Dan is a long-time coach and safe steering facilitator. He has more than a decade of training steers, in fact most the steers in Montreal were trained by him!
Registration: Send an email to club@22dragons.com.
Safe Steering
Dragon Boat Canada Safe Steering certification. This one-day course is for any person interested in learning how to steer boats for practices and races. This course is also for those that already know how to steer and need to be accredited. This is not a coaching course.
What this entails: The Safe Steering course will teach you the theory of steering, the safety considerations and rules for steering, and it will give you hands on learning for steering. The practical steering learning and practice will be done in small groups with a accredited Safe Steering assessor by your side.
Dates: May 10, 2026
Cost: $155 plus tax
In person delivery: This is a mandatory in person course because hands on learning is required. The theoretical portion of the course will be given at Canal Fitness (5524 Rue Saint-Patrick Unit 150) and the practical portion of the course will be given at the 22Dragons club (5527 Rue Saint-Patrick).
Course facilitator: Dan Levine and Eugene Sweetoo
Registration: Send an email to club@22dragons.com.
First Aid
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Emergency First Aid – Level C course is for those that want to have the knowledge required to react to and take control of emergency first aid situations. A valid first aid certification is required for all those who are coaching or steering a dragon boat and are pre-requisites for all non-officiating Dragon Boat Canada certifications.
What this entails: This is a one-day emergency first aid training. A first aid certificate is valid for three years after it is issued.
Dates: March 29, 2026
Cost: Variable depending on number of registration.
In person delivery: This is a mandatory in person course because hands on learning is required. The course will be given at Canal Fitness (5524 Rue Saint-Patrick Unit 150).
Registration: Send an email to Lyne@22dragons.com to register.
Past courses - These will be back again next year depending on interest.
Coach Level 1
Dragon Boat Canada Coach Level 1 certification. This two-day course is for any person interested in coaching amateur or community level teams.
Dates: November 15 and 16, 2025
Cost: $250 plus tax
In person delivery: Contrary to previously announced information that this class would be offered in a hybrid form, this class will be given in person at Canal Fitness.
Registration: Send an email to Lyne@22dragons.com or use the button below.
Officiating Level 1
Dragon Boat Canada Officiating Level 1 certification. This one-day course is for any person interested in learning how to officiate local and national festivals. Once you have taken this course, you will be able to get paid to officiate local festivals and apply to work at bigger racing festivals.
Date: **NEW DATE** January 25, 2026
Cost: $175 plus tax
In person delivery: Contrary to previously announced information that this class would be offered in a hybrid form, this class will be given in person at Canal Fitness.
Registration: Send an email to Lyne@22dragons.com or use the button below.
Coach Level 2
Dragon Boat Canada Coach Level 2 certification. This course is for the Community Certified Coaches interested in coaching competitive dragon boat teams.
Prerequisite: Coach Level 1 certification is required.
Dates: January 17 and 18, 2026
Cost: $275 plus tax
In person delivery: Contrary to previously announced information that this class would be offered in a hybrid form, this class will be given in person at Canal Fitness.
Registration: Send an email to Lyne@22dragons.com or use the button below.