The purpose of the Lighthouse Country Marine Rescue Society (LCMRS) is to provide financial support for CCGA-P Unit 59 Deep Bay. The current officers are: President Nelson Eddy, Vice President Hugh Jackson, Secretary-Treasurer Gerry Caillé, Directors-at-large, Larry Highcock and George Williamson. Unit Leader Richard Wahlgren is an ex-officio member of the executive.  Unit 59 executive are listed here.

Unit 59 comprises volunteers from Qualicum Beach to Fanny Bay, with the base of operations being the Deep Bay Marina. From this location Unit 59 can be tasked by the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria to render assistance to any vessel in distress between Union Bay and Qualicum Bay. This includes the popular boating areas of Tribune Bay, Baynes Sound, and Lambert Channel between Denman and Hornby Islands. Occasionally Unit 59's area of operations overlaps the adjoining Units 58 and 60 in French Creek and Comox respectively.

The predecessor to Unit 59 was formed by the late John McLean following the loss of some friends and neighbours in two separate boating accidents in the early 1970's. The first executive officers were Chris (John's son) and Sue McLean (Chair), Mel and Carol Gray, Bill MacDonald Jr., Ken Neden and others that have passed away. John McLean could not have an executive position because he was leader of the active arm, which was then called the Civic Defense Rescue Group.

At this time there was no formal search and rescue available except for the RCMP. In 1975 John McLean formed the District 69 Search and Rescue Society to raise funds for SAR in the area. The Society continued until 1978 when the Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary (Western) was chartered along with four other zones in Canada. Unit 59 was established at this time and is thus one of the oldest in the region. In 1995 the Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary (W) became the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific, reflecting the fact that the Canadian Government had legislated the Canadian Coast Guard into existence as a branch of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.  On the 28th of January, 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Canadian Department of Transport Marine Safety Branch, the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Canadian Coast Guard, with the view to "Work together in promoting boating safety across Canada through public education, boating safety activities, and pleasure craft courtesy checks." Concomitant with this MOU is a renewed emphasis on enforcement; however, the Auxiliary ARE NOT enforcement officers.  We are search and rescue personnel with a mandate to promote boating safety by education and non-compulsory boat safety checks..

In addition to its emergency response role, Unit 59 provides information and marine safety services within the community commonly known as Lighthouse Country. Instruction and testing is available for interested individuals who wish to obtain the Pleasure Craft Operator's Card and the Unit is well represented with an information booth at such events as the Lighthouse Community Fall Fair, Fanny Bay Days and the Canada Day celebrations in Bowser and Deep Bay. On-water and classroom training is conducted by the Unit.  Furthermore several members have been able to attend marine fire safety courses in collaboration with the Deep Bay Harbour Authority and the Deep Bay Volunteer Fire Department..

Financial support for the Unit is received from Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific to cover fuel and insurance costs for the rescue vessels but all other funding, for equipment etc., must be obtained from community sources by donation (via the LCMRS). We are fortunate to have received considerable support from BC Gaming, the Regional Districts of Nanaimo and Comox Valley,  from the proprietor of Deep Bay Marina, reduced fuel costs courtesy of the Ship and Shore fuel depot, and donations from community businesses and many others.

The LCMRS has currently concluded a successful fund raising campaign for a new dedicated rescue vessel, the DRV Mapleguard.   We are now soliciting donations for a new training centre and storage area. Contact the President of LCMRS, Nelson Eddy at lcmrs@shaw.ca or phone Nelson at 757-2036 if you would like to contribute to boating safety in our area. If you would like to discuss membership in Unit 59, contact Unit Leader Richard Wahlgren at jrwsaw@shaw.ca.

BACK