Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - History

History

Coastal lifesaving stations manned by volunteers pre-dates Canadian Confederation (1867). The country's first motorized lifeboat, also operated by volunteers, was put into service in Canada in 1907 at Bamfield, British Columbia.

Formal responsibility for organizing and overseeing search and rescue in Canada was given to the Minister of National Defence in 1951. This responsibility mostly fell to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) which, in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), organized rescue coordination centres (RCCs) across the country to manage RCAF SAR response activities for specific geographic areas.

Changes to the Canada Shipping Act in 1961 and the formation of the Canadian Coast Guard in 1962 saw the Minister of Transport, who had responsibility for the CCG from 1962-1995, be given responsibility for maritime search and rescue in support of the Minister of National Defence's mandate. As a result, the Minister of Transport designated "marine rescue controllers" who were CCG personnel that would work within the RCAF's rescue co-ordination centres. The RCCs were renamed joint rescue coordination centres (JRCCs) to denote the dual role of air and maritime search and rescue as well as their joint operation by RCAF and CCG.

CCG search and rescue officials first formally recognized volunteer rescuers in 1963. Volunteer "search masters" were individuals with access to seaworthy boats equipped with radios and volunteer "rescue agents" were individuals who served as local points of communication with CCG maritime rescue controllers operating in JRCCs. A special metal sign was provided to identify an individual who volunteered with maritime search and rescue. A distinctive pennant based on the design of the CCG jack was also issued: white hoist, blue fly, single red maple leaf with the letters S and R on either side of the leaf.

By the mid 1970s, it became clear that a formal organization for training volunteer search and rescuers was necessary in order to improve the CCG's response to maritime search and rescue incidents, particularly in remote locations. This was confirmed in a 1975 study commissioned by CCG and led to the Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary or CMRA being formed in late 1978 as a non-profit organization in an effort to enhance search and rescue coverage and capability, and to better coordinate volunteer efforts. The CMRA was renamed the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary or CCGA in 1997.

In 2012, the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary – Pacific changed its name to Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR). The new name reflects the volunteer marine rescue service's distinct identity. The change will assist the public in understanding the community-based nature of the service and the importance of local support in maintaining rescue vessels, recruiting and training volunteers, and equipping them with the tools they need to save lives on the water. The title "Royal" was granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in February 2012 in recognition of the organization's long-standing service, broad geographic coverage, and philanthropic mandate. This is a new chapter in the 150-year tradition of volunteer lifeboats on the west coast.