Four Ladysmith residents have been recognized for outstanding service with Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR), including two of this year’s top provincial volunteer awards.
Sue Wisely of Station 29 was named Volunteer of the Year, while fellow member John Davis received Volunteer of the Year, Supporting Member, during RCMSAR’s annual awards ceremony on Sept. 29.
“This award is a great honour, and honestly, it reflects the commitment that the whole membership of Station 29 shares with me,” Wisely said. “I could not accomplish many things as station leader, progress in my own training to become an advanced crew member, or be an active volunteer in my community without the teamwork and commitment of the other Station 29 crew members and supporting members. It shows how much we lean on each other and work together to accomplish the many goals that Station 29 aspires to.”
Wisely has been volunteering with RCMSAR since 2018 and joined so she could give back to her community, spend more time on the water, and help educate families on water safety; especially the importance of wearing personal flotation devices. Her years with RCMSAR have given her plenty of reasons to stay.
“What I love most is witnessing new crew members advance in their training, challenge themselves and obtain all the skills needed to become competent crew members,” she said. “And then being part of these teams, working and training together, and ultimately responding on missions together.”
The local crew celebrated their achievements at the station’s annual barbecue in August, where three of the four awards were known ahead of time. Wisely’s recognition, however, was a surprise.
“I knew of the other three awards being presented, since I was involved in organizing the events that day, but I was unaware of mine. My leadership team kept it a surprise,” she said. “It was a great day.”
The official RCMSAR ceremony was held online on Sept. 29, allowing members from across the province to take part.
Also recognized from Station 29 were Kevin Jamieson, who received an RCMSAR CEO Commendation, and Brian Cromp, who was awarded the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Long Service Medal for 20 years of marine rescue service.
“These awards recognize not only these individuals, but the massive contribution to boater safety that all RCMSAR volunteers make daily,” the organization said in a release. “The spirit and dedication they bring to saving lives, including countless hours training and preparing to respond is amazing.”
The four recipients are part of RCMSAR Station 29, one of 30 volunteer-run marine rescue stations across B.C. Crews are on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies, often sacrificing work, sleep and family time to help others in distress.
In the past year alone, RCMSAR crews conducted more than 450 missions, rescuing 74 people and assisting nearly 300 others.
In addition to emergency response, volunteers lead safety initiatives like Kids Don’t Float, which offers free access to children’s lifejackets at more than 110 marinas and docks across B.C.
