Even if you don’t know the green side from the red side or the pointy end from the flat end, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) would appreciate your interest. This is a great opportunity to join a diverse team of fun people who like to learn new skills while contributing back to their local community. RCMSAR is a volunteer organization with the mission to save lives on the water. Achieving this mission requires people with a range of skills and experience, for both vessel crew positions and support positions.
The organization is made up of more than 1,200 men and women from 16-year-old juniors to seniors in their 80s, with every sort of education or background experience. Volunteers are trained to respond to any sort of marine emergencies and/or help in areas such as administration, vessel maintenance and fundraising.
As a non-government organization, funds from corporate contributions, legacies, grants and private donations are necessary for acquiring and maintaining the vessels and ancillary equipment needed to operate safely in all conditions day or night. Donations have also paid for much of the crews’ protective gear and clothing, outside training and the equipment on board the vessels.
Becoming a crew member of RCMSAR means a commitment of time and energy for training, being on call and contributing to a variety of projects and ongoing tasks. There are also management roles available in a variety of different station functions. Ongoing training is provided both on the water and in the classroom at no personal cost and is a requirement for maintaining crew status. Training includes skills such as boat handling, seamanship, navigation, radio operations, first aid, search and rescue, vessel electronics and collision regulations.
There are three RCMSAR stations located on the Sunshine Coast, each of which respond in their local areas that together cover the entire region: Station 14 (Gibsons), Station 12 (Halfmoon Bay) and Station 61 (Pender Harbour). Station 12 responds with two boats, located in Secret Cove and in Sechelt Inlet from Porpoise Bay. Combined, these three stations have responded to 59 taskings so far in 2014.
All RCMSAR stations are under the same overall organization and operate in the same manner of volunteer crews and supporters. The rescue vessels are modern, well-equipped, purpose-built, rigid-hull inflatables that are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each one is owned by its local not-for-profit society.
Two local stations are currently looking for new people to join their teams. If interested, please contact either station for further information about their volunteer opportunities as vessel crew or as station support: For Station 12 (in Secret Cove and Sechelt): [email protected], 604-989-4196, http://rcmsar12.org. Regular meetings are on Monday evenings in Sechelt. For Station 14 (in Gibsons): [email protected], 604-886-3586, http://rcmsar14.org
Station 12 will be holding an open house/information session on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Please join us at the Sunshine Coast Community Services Building on Inlet Avenue street if you are interested.
