North Shuswap Kicker May 2022

Shuswap RCMSAR Breaks Ground on Boathouse

By Sionna McTavish

In January of 2022, the Shuswap Lifeboat Society obtained a $250,000 BC Community Gaming Capital Grant to go towards building a boathouse facility for the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station #106 – Shuswap. After five years of diversified fundraising efforts (including local government), and an immense amount of community support through contributions and volunteer time, the grant provided the necessary financing component for design planning and construction of the project to get underway.

Therefore, it is with great excitement and pride on behalf of the RCMSAR and Shuswap Lifeboat Society that President Bruce Weicker would like to announce the upcoming Boathouse Groundbreaking Ceremony. Rob Sutherland, Station Chief, will make the first weld, to officially begin the building process.

On Wednesday, May 18 at the Twin Anchors Marina in Sicamous, local dignitaries will gather to celebrate this occasion, and meet the many crew and society volunteers who have made construction of this unique facility a reality. They will have an opportunity to learn more about the essential emergency services, along with other water and boat safety programs provided by the RCMSAR to Shuswap Lake and Mara Lake that “save lives on the water”. Weicker added the Municipal and Provincial dignitaries present will speak in honor of the occasion, and a reception will follow until approximately 1:30 pm.

The new BoathouseResponse Base development is significant in many ways. One of which is that it will protect capital assets valued at nearly $1,000,000. During the past ten years since its inception, the RCMSAR has accumulated operational supplies, equipment, and two response vessels: Rescue One and Tolonen. Until now, the vessels have been moored at a wharf in Sicamous and exposed to all weather conditions. The boats must be constantly maintained in order to be ready for emergency call outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In 2021, RCMSAR Station #106 completed 40 missions, the second highest number by a station in British Columbia. Given the necessity for yearround preparedness, and volume of rescue missions, the new Boathouse will drastically reduce the amount of hours volunteers spend on maintenance to keep the vessels in top operating condition, ready to go at a moment’s notice.

In the time leading up to the Ground Breaking Ceremony, Weicker said volunteers will be working hard to perform maintenance on 18 Kids Don’t Float Kiosks, supplied with Personal Flotation Devices for children. In 2021, there were 10 new sponsored RCMSAR Life Ring Stations added to the existing number of stations at selected docks and beaches – these will be serviced and prepared for usage by the onset of the Victoria Day May long weekend, too.

RCMSAR also celebrates its 10th Anniversary on Saturday, May 14 at the Main Street Dock area in Sicamous.

The rescue boats will be on display with along with BC Ambulance, the RCMP boat and the BC Parks boat. Everyone is invited to drop down to the dock and enjoy some hamburgers and hot dogs, while visiting with the volunteers of RCMSAR #106 – Shuswap. Currently, there are a number of new recruits in training who have joined the RCM- SAR Emergency Response crew bringing the total to 28 volunteers, Weicker said. And, if you are interested in becoming involved with the Shuswap Lifeboat Society, they are always welcoming new volunteers.

COVER PHOTO: Tolonen and Crew Responding to a Medical Emergency last year in Seymour Arm. RCMSAR Shuswap Photo

Kids Don’t Float Kiosk located at the Magna Bay Boat Launch

RCMSAR photo