Business Plan - Canadian Coast Guard

Section 4: What We Do Every Day40Canadian CoastGuard AuxiliaryCanadian mariners have a strong tradition of respondingto distress calls from vessels in trouble. Canada’s vast andoften inhospitable coastline, combined with unpredictableweather, has ensured that these situations are far fromuncommon. It is not possible for the Canadian CoastGuard to cover the entire coastline, and for many decadesCCG has relied on volunteers to supplement its responseefforts. In 1978-1979, this loose network of volunteerswas formalized with the creation of the CanadianMarine Rescue Association (CMRA), later renamed theCanadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA).The Auxiliary is organized into six federally incorporated,not-for-profit volunteer organizations that parallel thefive CCG regions, as well as one that is organized at thenational level. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceansmaintains a formal Contribution Agreement with eachof the six CCGA corporations. The corporations areseparate legal entities from the Government of Canadaand work in close partnership with CCG.From the nearly 4,300 members of the Auxiliary,approximately 90% are commercial fishers and pleasureboaters who donate their time and vessels to assist theCCG. The remaining CCGA members are volunteersfrom local communities who enrol to crew communitybaseddedicated response vessels 24 hours and seven daysa week. In addition to their time, the CCGA membersmake available to the Government of Canada some1,200 personal and community operated vessels.CCGA is reflected in some notable statistics. Forinstance, since inception, the CCGA have respondedto over 48,700 search and rescue taskings. In 2007, theCCGA responded to 1,829 SAR taskings, participatedin 1,567 training exercises, and volunteered over 241,000hours. Every year, the CCGA responds to approximately25% of all maritime SAR incidents in Canada and iscredited with saving approximately 1,000 lives each year.CCGA services benefit domestic and internationalrecreational boaters, personnel aboard commercial vessels,fishing vessels, oil/gas platforms, aircraft, provincialferries and any other persons in distress. Since the CCGAunits are strategically located across Canada they areoften first on the scene at a SAR incident. The CanadianCoast Guard Auxiliary helps to bridge a very importantgap between the beginning of a search and the arrival ofgovernment maritime and air units. In many instances,the Auxiliary is the only resource available.In addition to responding to SAR incidents, the Auxiliaryengages in vital incident-prevention activities to reducethe number and severity of maritime SAR incidents.Prevention includes training and familiarizationpatrols; the reporting of out-of-position, damaged, andmalfunctioning aids to navigation; demonstrations ofsearch and rescue equipment; and the provision of SARprevention patrols for sailing regattas, yacht races, andfireworks displays.The Auxiliary’s local knowledge, maritime experience,seafaring talents, and professional conduct in dischargingSAR and education responsibilities make CCGA one ofCanada’s greatest maritime volunteer assets.Commissioner’s CommendationAwarded to R. Jack KrugerJack Kruger has been a dedicated member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary for more than adecade and his accomplishments in the Search and Rescue (SAR) program have not gone unnoticed.Jack’s commitment to SAR is reflected in his successful command and control of incidentsthroughout the Nunavut and Northwest Territories. Indeed, improvements in SAR response capabilitydemonstrated by the Central and Arctic Region’s Coast Guard Auxiliary are the direct result ofJack’s ability to galvanize search teams in remote areas of Canada’s north.Since becoming a CCGA member in 1997, Jack’s “get it done” attitude has achieved results incountless other ways – many of which will only be known by Jack. His commitment to the Auxiliaryis heartfelt; he expects no accolades – only to be called to assist when a SAR case occurs inthe Arctic.Canadian Coast Guard — www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca