News & Announcements from RCMSAR
From Minecraft to Rescue Craft
In just over two and a half years, Sashen has gone from being terrified of the ocean to becoming Deputy Station Leader at our Gibsons rescue station. So far, he’s logged 172 hours on the water, participated in four rescue missions, and made a lasting impact on his...
A Proud Moment for RCMSAR
We’ve always known that the heart of RCMSAR is our volunteers, and one of our own just received well-deserved recognition for his unwavering dedication. Duncan Peacock, a long-time volunteer with RCMSAR’s Kitimat station, was recently awarded the prestigious Tim Jones...
Crazy Winds in Nanaimo Harbour
What began as a routine response to an anchor dragging in Nanaimo Harbour quickly turned into a multi-vessel operation when RCMSAR volunteers arrived on scene. Our crew was tasked to help a boat whose anchor was dragging in Nanaimo Harbour after some sudden strong...
Donate to RCMSAR
Your contributions help support our volunteer training and our keep our equipment in excellent condition. Donations are also used for prevention programs that save lives on the water before a rescue is needed.
Volunteers Honoured at Annual RCMSAR Awards Ceremony
The annual Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Volunteer Awards took place on Saturday, September 21, honouring the outstanding service of the organization’s volunteers and stations as recognized by their peers, the RCMSAR Board of Directors, and the Joint Rescue...
18 People Saved From Sinking Yacht
A group planning an evening on the water, watching fireworks nearly ended up in the water off West Vancouver. Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue volunteers saved more than a dozen people after their yacht began taking on water off West Vancouver on Saturday. The...
Late Night Rescue After Jet Ski Catches Fire
Just after 10:00 pm, our team was paged to assist with two jet skis that had broken down. The on-call crew quickly mustered at the boathouse and, following a briefing, departed the base 20 minutes later. It took about 15 minutes to arrive in the area, where we...
Helping Hand For A Novice Sailor
One of our stations got a page one evening in response to a PanPan* call. A concerned citizen called for assistance after observing a sailing vessel aground on the outer breakwater near her home, and hearing the person on board calling for help. In less than 20...
Mom and Two Young Children Stranded on Sidney Island
Late one overcast and rainy afternoon, we were paged to rescue a mother and two young children who had been stranded on Sidney Island, off the east coast of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island. They were part of a larger camping group that had been partially...
Quick Action Saves Downed Windsurfer
During a routine exercise on the water, our team received a distress call about a windsurfer separated from their board and struggling in the water. Racing against time, we quickly located the caller on the beach, who directed us to the windsurfer's location.We...
Boater Rescued after Capsizing
One of our stations received a tasking one afternoon to respond to a MayDay. The on-call crew were notified, and after assembling at the boathouse, they were brief and each assigned duties. After completing their pre-departure checks, they left base and arrived at the...
Training Exercise Turns Into a Rescue Mission
While out on a training exercise one weekend afternoon, crew members noticed a small runabout rental boat frantically waving them over. As they approached, they saw two people in the boat and one person struggling in the water nearby. The person in the water had...
Two Boaters Found Stranded on Rocks
One evening in March, with temperatures hovering around 10 degrees, one of our RCMSAR crews received a call-out to locate two stranded boaters. After mustering at the boathouse, the five crew members were briefed on the mission and soon on their way, in calm seas but...
Sooke Crew Hops to Bunny’s Aid
Bunbun the rabbit had an emotional reunion with his owner after volunteer crew members from Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue members plucked the rabbit from a liveaboard boat in the iced-over waters off East Sooke and delivered him safely to land. Bunbun's...
RCMSAR Comes to the Aid of a Stranded Hiker.
A hiker on Vancouver Island recently found themselves in a precarious situation. They had veered off the trail and, surrounded by unforgiving terrain, could see the water but couldn't make any headway. Realizing the gravity of their predicament, and having the...
Safe Boating Awareness Week
Safe Boating Awareness Week has been the mainstay of boating safety to over 16 million people who recreate on Canadian waters. Boating is not quite into full gear yet, with some areas of the country open and some soon to open. Because many are getting onto the water...
Volunteer With RCMSAR
Interested in becoming a volunteer? We would love to hear from you.
Contact your local RCMSAR Rescue Station for more information.