As the boating season gets underway in the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) began its annual search-and-rescue training at its Parry Sound base. A group of 40 post-secondary students are taking part and will be playing critical roles for the CCG, which responded to more than 1,200 search-and-rescue (SAR) cases on the Great Lakes last year. Hillary Beauvais from Victoria, B.C. is a SAR officer for the Arctic region, and is one of the lead instructors for the Parry Sound base training. “One particular call I had was the last day of the season, we’re getting ready to pack up getting ready to go, it’s our last night, and we get called out at 3 a.m. for a sailboat,” recalled Beauvais, speaking about the importance of being ready for the unexpected. “I think it’s important that we bring the crews up to speed and ensure that they meet that standard, so if something does happen on the water, the public can rely on them.” The 40 trainees are being put through a gauntlet of life-saving and vessel-saving skills. The training program is one of seven taking place across the country. “From basic boat handling skills, navigational skills, all the way to the advanced topics, such as heavy weather boat handling, SAR patterns and recovering people from the water,” detailed Graham Silcox, CCG Maritime SAR Senior Program Officer, of what they are practicing. Monday’s exercises included blind docking and towing, where trainees had to carefully maneuver their zodiacs to tow the larger Cambrian vessel into the Parry Sound dock. The exercise simulated a response to a disabled vessel that had to be towed safely back to shore. Jay Ham, one of the operators, is in her third year of training and is assuming more of a leadership role for young recruits. “You’ll be leading your crew and you don’t expect your crew to know everything,” said Ham of her responsibilities. “You’re the one that is expected to know everything on the boat.” The group includes 13 rookies who were selected from several hundred applicants. “It’s been really fun. They’re keeping us busy,” said Owen Rycroft, one of the rookies. “Honestly I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my last three days and beginning of my summer break.” The group will train for just over two more weeks, where they will continue practicing navigation, first aid, and vessel maintenance. When they finish, they will get deployed in the Great Lakes for two weeks on, two weeks off throughout the summer.
