The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) Shuswap Station 106 finally has a roof over its head with the grand opening of the new boathouse in the District of Sicamous.
A large crowd of dignitaries, first responders and members of the public attended the 乌鸦传媒渞ope cutting乌鸦传媒� ceremony 乌鸦传媒� like the lines used on the boats 乌鸦传媒� Saturday afternoon, May 24, complete with speeches, tours and a barbecue.
Shuswap Lifeboat Society president Bruce Weicker served as emcee, saying this long awaited for facility will enable faster response times, particularly on winter calls as they now won乌鸦传媒檛 have to brush snow and ice off the boats.
乌鸦传媒淵eah, a boathouse is great, but we乌鸦传媒檙e more than just a boathouse, we乌鸦传媒檙e a rescue centre,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚t provides space for training... but most importantly, our rescue base provides the privacy when we return with a patient needing further medical attention.乌鸦传媒�
Sicamous Mayor Colleen Anderson also spoke, having been on council since the project was first pursued. Though it乌鸦传媒檚 situated in the district, she said it will continue to serve the entire Shuswap as RCMSAR always has.
乌鸦传媒淎s Houseboat Capital of Canada, as well as water access only cottages, there was a need for this,乌鸦传媒� Anderson said. 乌鸦传媒淲e are so fortunate that we have this group of volunteers serving, saving lives on water, for the greater Shuswap, based here in Sicamous.乌鸦传媒�
She added that it乌鸦传媒檚 the only freshwater, inland RCMSAR station in the province, making this step even more notable.
乌鸦传媒淲e should be really proud, as a community,乌鸦传媒� she said with emotion. 乌鸦传媒淭ruly a longtime coming.乌鸦传媒�
Anderson also mentioned the Bruhn Bridge project, and the possibility of additional on the water emergencies it could bring, after which Weicker told a related anecdote.
In February, a team was out on a rescue boat in the channel and saw two guys on a little tin boat that looked a little 乌鸦传媒渢opsy turvy乌鸦传媒� and went to see if they needed assistance. They explained they were with the bridge crew and had just laid some boom down below and went for a cruise, but their motor quit. They started to paddle with their one oar but it broke on the first stroke, so as Weiker said, 乌鸦传媒渢alk about being up the channel without paddle.乌鸦传媒�
The crew assisted them, for the first unofficial rescue for the Bruhn Bridge.
Given the regionality of the RCMSAR, Columbia Shuswap Regional District chair Natalya Melnychuk and Salmon Arm Mayor Alan Harrison also attended and spoke on the project that they too have been anticipating.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 really amazing to see this come to fruition. I remember when this was a concept and it was being presented to the board,乌鸦传媒� said Melnychuk. 乌鸦传媒淭his is not just Sicamous it is all of the Shuswap, and without this service, we would be at a loss.乌鸦传媒�
RCMSAR member and project manager Pat Gau spoke, noting the incredible support and donations that made the boathouse a reality, which will now enable the crew to better serve the Shuswap.
乌鸦传媒淥ur mission is saving lives on the water, and this base will get us there faster.乌鸦传媒�
RCMSAR CEO Bill Riggs attended the grand opening to not only congratulate the station on its new base, but also highlight some outstanding crew members. He explained that one of his 乌鸦传媒減rivileges and honours乌鸦传媒� he has is to recognize specific volunteers who have exceeded expectations.
The first recognition given was the Board of Directors Commendation presented to Lansing and Weicker, a medal for Exceptional Service to Rob Sutherland, an Exceptional Leadership medal to Doug Pearce, and the CEO Commendation to Pat Gau for his work as project manager.
In closing the ceremony, station leader Tamara Lansing recalled that when she first started with RCMSAR five years ago, and said that even at her first meeting the 乌鸦传媒渄ream of building the rescue base乌鸦传媒� was mentioned, and she乌鸦传媒檚 thankful to finally see that dream realized.
乌鸦传媒淚t was clear that this had been a long standing vision, one that had seen many years of planning and many more still to come,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd today that vision is reality, and it乌鸦传媒檚 pretty good looking.乌鸦传媒�
