Tag Archives: Canadian Coast Guard

Rivers & Oceans

Canada invests more in oceans protection, but measures fail to salvage sinking fishing boat

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the next phase of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan on July 19. It comes with a commitment to add $2 billion over nine years.

This builds on the $1.5 billion that’s been directed towards the program, which was launched in 2016.

Established to strengthen the protection of Canada’s coasts and wildlife, the Oceans Protection Plan is being labelled as a “Canadian success story” by the prime minister’s office (PMO).

Continue reading Canada invests more in oceans protection, but measures fail to salvage sinking fishing boat →
Health, Transportation

Islanders worry they’ll be marooned if medical emergency strikes at night

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Editor’s note: the last ferry from Cortes Island, a 45 minute ferry trip away from Quadra, leaves at 5:50 PM

Residents of Quadra Island are worried about being stranded ashore when medical emergencies occur at night because BC Ferries can’t guarantee a crew for sailings to get ambulances across to the hospital in Campbell River.

A petition with close to 1,000 signatures is circulating in the community of 2,700 full-time residents calling on B.C.’s Transportation Minister Rob Fleming to work with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and BC Ferries to reinstate off-hour ferry service so ambulances can get patients to hospital in a timely manner.

Continue reading Islanders worry they’ll be marooned if medical emergency strikes at night →
Disaster

Canadian Coast Guard reopens seasonal rescue boat station on Cortes Island

by Louis Belcourt, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

The Canadian Coast Guard has four seasonally operated Inshore Rescue Boat stations across the BC coast that reopened for the season on May 20th.

Continue reading Canadian Coast Guard reopens seasonal rescue boat station on Cortes Island →
Arts, Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

Ocean rescue ‘heroes’ the subject of new television series

By Crystal St.Pierre, Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Four communities along the western shores of British Columbia that are members of the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary will be showcased in an upcoming television series called Ocean Warriors – Mission Ready.

“We are going to watch those guys transition into a full-fledged volunteer Indigenous coast guard,” said Steve Sxwithul’txw, creator, producer and director of the upcoming series.

Continue reading Ocean rescue ‘heroes’ the subject of new television series →
Rivers & Oceans, Transportation

Boat catches fire close to Refuge Cove

At 9:08 AM on the morning of February 9th, 2022, a Squirrel Cove resident phoned the Coast Guard about a fire just north of Refuge Cove, on West Redonda Island. What she thought might be a house engulfed by fire turned out to be a 34 foot wood and fiberglass boat close to the shore.

Continue reading Boat catches fire close to Refuge Cove →