New marine search and rescue vessel arrives on northern Vancouver Island
After months of eagerly awaiting resources to respond to mariner emergencies, members of the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nation were excited to spot the new Search and Rescue vessel's arrival on May 18.
Since 2021 Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' and the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary (CNCCA) have been working together to get a SAR vessel in their community. In January construction began on the vessel in Sidney, B.C.
Elizabeth Jack, the Emergency Preparedness coordinator for Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h', received photo updates of the boat throughout its construction, observing that, “it's so awesome to see the shape of the boat coming out of sheet metal.”
“I think it's a really good vessel to have considering how remote we are and due to lack of resources that we have in and around our community,” said Jack.
The closest coast guard station to Kyuquot is based in Tofino, said Jack. She estimates it would take four to seven hours, depending on weather, to respond in Kyuquot Sound.
“With us having this vessel in our community, we're there for all distress calls that are within the Kyuquot Sound,” said Jack.
Throughout the preparation period, a number of volunteers have been trained with Canadian Coast Guard's Rigid Hull Inflatable Operator Training and Coxswain training level one, making them equipped to respond to emergencies.
Jack said that the team holds a diverse skill set important for emergencies on the water.
“In the event of an emergency, we'll be there in probably less than an hour,” said Jack.
The new search and rescue vessel is shown. (Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary/Facebook)Only eight days after the arrival of their SAR vessel, would they be on the water responding to their first call when a locals' boat broke down. Jack and her husband towed the broken-down boat back with the SAR vessel.
“I can't believe it's here,” said Jack.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'