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 鈥渞ope cutting鈥� ceremony 鈥� like the lines used on the boats 鈥� 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鈥檛 have to brush snow and ice off the boats.
鈥淵eah, a boathouse is great, but we鈥檙e more than just a boathouse, we鈥檙e a rescue centre,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t provides space for training... but most importantly, our rescue base provides the privacy when we return with a patient needing further medical attention.鈥�
Sicamous Mayor Colleen Anderson also spoke, having been on council since the project was first pursued. Though it鈥檚 situated in the district, she said it will continue to serve the entire Shuswap as RCMSAR always has.
鈥淎s Houseboat Capital of Canada, as well as water access only cottages, there was a need for this,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淲e are so fortunate that we have this group of volunteers serving, saving lives on water, for the greater Shuswap, based here in Sicamous.鈥�
She added that it鈥檚 the only freshwater, inland RCMSAR station in the province, making this step even more notable.
鈥淲e should be really proud, as a community,鈥� she said with emotion. 鈥淭ruly a longtime coming.鈥�
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 鈥渢opsy turvy鈥� 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, 鈥渢alk about being up the channel without paddle.鈥�
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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really amazing to see this come to fruition. I remember when this was a concept and it was being presented to the board,鈥� said Melnychuk. 鈥淭his is not just Sicamous it is all of the Shuswap, and without this service, we would be at a loss.鈥�
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.
鈥淥ur mission is saving lives on the water, and this base will get us there faster.鈥�
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 鈥減rivileges and honours鈥� 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 鈥渄ream of building the rescue base鈥� was mentioned, and she鈥檚 thankful to finally see that dream realized.
鈥淚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,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd today that vision is reality, and it鈥檚 pretty good looking.鈥�
