Guardian Marine Rescue recruiting volunteers to ‘futureproof’ Essex County response

Guardian Marine Rescue is looking for volunteers to help out on Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair.

Guardian Marine Rescue is recruiting volunteers for its Colchester and Belle River units as it prepares for the 2026 boating season, saying ongoing recruitment is key to maintaining rapid emergency response on local waterways.

The organization operates as part of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, providing marine search and rescue support across Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River.

Coxswain Tyler Burniston said, like any volunteer-based service, turnover is inevitable.

“An organization like ourselves, it’s like a volunteer fire department. There’s always going to be some turnover,” Burniston said.

“What we’re trying to do as an organization … is ensure that we’re doing ongoing recruitment so when somebody needs to step down or take a leave of absence, we’re not leaving any gaps.”

He said the goal is to “futureproof” the organization and ensure it can continue meeting the needs of the community.

Running the campaign in February allows time for applicants to complete the intake process — including acceptance through the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary — so crews are ready to respond once boating activity increases in the spring.

Burniston said response times for high-priority calls, such as a person in the water, typically range from 15 to 20 minutes from the Colchester station.

“Time is sensitive, especially during the cold times of year where hypothermia can set in relatively quickly,” he said.

When a distress call is received — either directly or through 911 — it is routed through the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, which oversees search and rescue operations in the region. Crew members are alerted and assemble at the station before deploying, with staffing levels depending on the nature of the call.

While the past year has been relatively quiet on the lakes, Burniston said crews continue to respond to incidents involving overdue vessels and people in the water. He noted there have been drownings in recent years.

He added that local boaters generally take safety seriously.

Recruitment is open to local residents who hold a valid Pleasure Craft Operator Card.

“The only thing you need to join is your boater’s licence. You could have got it yesterday or 20 years ago — it doesn’t matter,” Burniston said.

“Aside from that, it’s a willingness to participate as part of a team and to serve your community.”

He told CTV News volunteers range in age from their early 20s to mid-60s, with some having first responder backgrounds and others none at all.

“You can never have driven a boat before. It doesn’t matter,” he said.

“We’ll bring you on, we’ll train you, and we’ll make sure that by the time you’re responding, you are ready to go.”

Burniston said the organization also focuses on prevention and public education.

“I’d much rather spend 15, 20, 30 minutes with somebody on the dock than have to go out and try and rescue them when something goes wrong that was potentially preventable,” he said.

Guardian Marine Rescue is entirely volunteer run, with members supporting operations, training, maintenance and administration. Support crew roles are also available for those not interested in operational search and rescue work.

The organization is funded primarily through community donations.

Applications close Feb. 28, after which interviews will begin.

More information is available at GuardianMarineRescue.ca.