SAREx 2017 was the biggest and best yet with nearly 170 RCMSAR crew participating plus members of our Board of Governors, Headquarters team and our Canadian Coast Guard SAR partners.
The event, which took place May 12–14 at the Sunshine Coast’s Camp Elphinstone, was an excellent opportunity for members from throughout the region to learn, practice and share new skills.
On the Saturday, members were able to select some of their classes, so they could ‘choose their own adventure’. Sunday included an introduction to mass rescue operations from CEO Pat Quealey and a large-scale field exercise involving the Coast Guard hovercraft crew, Gibsons Fire Department, more than 30 RCMSAR rescuers and nearly 100 ‘casualties’. Crews practiced triage, communication and first aid in a situation designed to overwhelm the available resources.
The accompanying station management program had nearly 30 station and society leaders collaborating on best practices, fundraising and regional goals.
Thanks go to everyone who attended and helped make the weekend a great success. Special thanks go to the organizers: Mike Cupit, Roger Wagstaff, Alistair Duncan, Mark Wenn, Barb Bluschke, Erin Heeney, Vanessa Abbot and many, many more.