A Life-Saving Legacy
The Shuswap Lifeboat Society (SLS), supports the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Shuswap Station 106 (RCMSAR). RCMSAR Station #106 currently utilizes 28 well-trained and dedicated volunteers who contribute an average total of 4800 hours of time annually to save lives on the water. RCMSAR crews conduct anywhere from 30 to 50 missions per year rendering assistance and medical aid.
Their missions range from medical emergencies and evacuations, search and rescue of missing swimmers and boaters, boat incidents (mechanical failures, accidents, sinking’s, etc.) and any other incidents on or around our lakes. They attend to residences which are water access only as well as locations on the lake where their vessels are quicker than would be an ambulance by road. They often transport BC Ambulance Service paramedics for medical emergencies.
In addition to marine search and rescue, they provide boating safety education for children and adults throughout the Shuswap region. Station 106 crews bring displays about water and boating safety to many public events across the region including health and safety fairs, a fire department day, or community day. “Bobbie the Safety Boat” goes to 12- 17 schools annually visiting grade 2 and 3 students. Students are introduced to what our volunteers do to keep people safe on the water. The program emphasizes Water Safety Rules. “Kids Don’t Float” kiosks have loaner PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) for children to use while boating or swimming. The kiosks are located at 20 boat launches and beaches around Shuswap, Mara and Little Shuswap Lakes.
Help Sustain this Valuable Service
Station 106 crew members train to the standards established by the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue program. Their team is trained in basic seamanship, first aid, navigation, helmsman and rescue skills. Coxswains (vessel captains) are further trained with operational leadership and management skills, including advanced charting, use of radar in restricted visibility conditions, and vessel handling in extreme weather conditions. Our training occurs here in the Shuswap and the RCMSAR HQ Training Centre in Sooke, BC. RCMSAR Station 106 volunteers are unpaid heroes.
The Provincial Emergency Program and the BC Ambulance Service reimburse Station 106 for expenses incurred during rescue missions and RCMSAR Headquarters for expenses incurred during training. The Boating Safety Contribution Program of Canada covers most of the expenses involved in our educational programs. BC Gaming Grants and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District have supported major capital outlays such as the recent construction of a boathouse to protect our two boats from weathering when not in use.
What is not covered is a considerable portion of our operating costs such as boat maintenance and repairs and the ever-increasing costs of property and liability insurance. To this end, SLS has recently partnered with the Shuswap Community Foundation to create an endowment fund whose annual interest earnings would cover our annual operating costs, currently projected at $20,000 over any reimbursements realized.
The mission statement of RCMSAR Station #106 is “Saving Lives on the Water” and their mandate is “to provide Search and Rescue services on the Shuswap Lake system, to save lives and lessen injury, on a 24 hrs/day, 365 days/year basis.” The vision of our supportive society (SLS) is long-term sustainability. Reliance on grant-writing, government hand-outs, and fund-raising activities is problematic in terms of reliable sustenance.
Every donation will sustain this valuable service. Donations over $1000 will be recognized on the Station’s website and on symbolic life rings mounted to the walls of the Station 106 Boathouse moored in the Sicamous Channel.
