Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific Information

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (Pacific) is a volunteer organization of over 1000 people from many backgrounds who give up a great deal of their own time to train, be trained, and be on standby, in case they are needed to respond to a marine emergency on the water. These volunteers have the use of modern well equipped rescue vessels that are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The rescue vessels used are, for the most part, rigid hull inflatables. Most of the fleet of 41 vessels are less than 5 years old, and owned by societies local to the area where their vessels operate. The funds for building these vessels has to a large degree been provided by BC Gaming, as well as through significant corporate contributions, legacies, private donations and fundraising. Donations also has paid for much of the volunteers' protective clothing as well as the equipment on board. Many thanks goes to these contributors. The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (Pacific)'s area of operations includes more than 29,500 square kilometres of coastline, 6,500 islands, and approximately 450,000 square kilometres of internal and offshore waters. It is a challenge to provide search and rescue response capability to such a large area, and our volunteers meet the challenge with determination and professionalism, and assist those in peril on the sea.