The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Pacific - Unit 12, Halfmoon Bay BC

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA)

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Pacific Region (CCGA-P) includes over 1400 volunteers throughout the coastal waters of British Columbia who offer their time and commitment to actively providing search and rescue services. Called "the unsung heroes in our communities" by past Fisheries and Oceans minister Fred Mifflin, the Auxiliarists have been a part of the Search and Rescue network for 20 years.

The CCGA participates in resolving nearly one third of the SAR incidents that occur on the BC coast, either as the principal resource, or as an additional response unit. Its members also assist the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) in providing Courtesy Examinations to mariners within their communities.

Area of Responsibility

CCGA Unit 12's area of responsibility starts at White Islets to McNaughton Point and half way across the Strait of Georgia. We also cover the Sechelt Inlet from Egmont to Sechelt.

In addition to this area we may be tasked from Lasqueti Island, to Hardy Island through Skookumchuck into Sechelt Inlet/Narrows/Salmon Inlet and the boundary into Jervis Inlet, Prince of Wales Reach, and Hotham.

A short history of Unit 12 - Halfmoon Bay

Unit 12 was formed when Jon Churchill, the Canadian Coast Guard Liaison officer with the Canadian Marine Rescue Association (CMRA), came up to the Coast and met with the Halfmoon Bay Volunteer Fire Department and asked them, the only organized group at the time, if they would man a Rescue Boat supplied by the Coast Guard.

Prior to that time there was Unit 61 in Pender Harbour made up of Owner/Operators and a small inflatable boat.

In the Halfmoon Bay area the Mercer family had voluntarily taken on any rescues that they could handle with their own vessels.

The first boat that Unit 12 had was an old Avon rigid hull inflatable. It had twin 35 HP engines, a towing drum and line, a searchlight, a fire fighting and de-watering pump, a fire extinguisher and two paddles. The boat was primarily operated by firemen until 1984 when fewer firemen were willing to commit their time.

The first non-fireman Unit Leader was Ken Moore who was elected in 1984. The Unit did some active recruiting and put into place the first formal training program. At that time there was no RHIOT School (Rigid Hull Inflatable Operator Training) and all other CMRA training was carried out by Canadian Coast Guard training personnel.

Gordon Hall was the first CMRA member to go to RHIOT School and Ken Moore was the second. All vessels used by the Auxiliary must be manned by RHIOT trained coxswains.

As budgets were cut for the Coast Guard, training for the CMRA was the first item to suffer. We suggested that our members be trained as instructors and we would carry out our own program to meet Coast Guard standards. The Coast Guard was reluctant to do that because they did not feel that volunteers could meet their "professional" standards.

The name, Canadian Marine Rescue Association, was changed to The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.

After a few years it became apparent that something had to be done so they accepted our proposal. Today, just about all the volunteer training is carried out by CCGA members.

CCGA Pacific Unit List