Capt. Mollet holds a 500 GT Captain certificate and has worked in many capacities, from deckhand to Captain to Shore Captain and Manager.

RCMP Sgt. Glen Anderson, left, thanked Bob Mollet,
owner of Datum Marine Service Ltd., for teaching his
100th Basic Water Transport Course Monday
morning in Tofino. (Keven Drews Photo)

By Keven Drews

Bob Mollet surpassed a major milestone in Tofino Monday morning. The owner of Port Alberni’s Datum Marine Service Ltd. began teaching his 100th Basic Water Transport Course to a handful of Mounties inside the Weigh West Resort. To celebrate the feat, fellow Mounties and resort staff presented a surprised Mollet with a framed certificate and two cakes. "He’s an amazing instructor," said Sgt. Glen Anderson, the NCO in charge of field training at the RCMP’s Pacific Region Training Centre. "Every member that comes on this course comes on this course because it’s the best course in the RCMP." The five-day course teaches a class of about eight members how to achieve Transport Canada certification as a commercial boat operator. The course also teaches a number of practical skills. Course are run from mid-March to May and then again in October. Mollet began teaching the course as a private contractor and as part of a pilot project at the Weigh West 12 years ago. Before that he served with the RCMP for 21 years, 15 of which he spent teaching a similar course. He retired in 1996 with the rank of staff sergeant. Mollet said Monday was significant for one major reason. "It means this program has been a phenomenal success," he said. He thanked the resort’s past and current owners and managers for their continued support and lauded Tofino for its "amazing community support."

"Tofino as a community has been so supportive."

This article courtesy Westcoaster.ca