Crews from local Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue units will be training in Nanaimo on Saturday, with exercises expected to be mainly along the downtown waterfront. (submitted photo/RCM-SAR)

By Alex Rawnsley

first responders

Marine search and rescue training to takeover Nanaimo waterfront

Feb 19, 2025 | 5:39 AM

NANAIMO — Around 40 Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) personnel are preparing for semi-annual training in the city this weekend.

Crews from Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Deep Bay and Port Alberni will be in attendance on Saturday, Feb. 22, alongside response teams from the Canadian Coast Guard, RCMP, Nanaimo Port Authority and Snuneymuxw First Nation for the wide-ranging exercises.

RCM-SAR Station 27 spokesperson Russel Berg told NanaimoNewsNOW the exercises will mostly take place in and around the downtown waterfront.

“[Onlookers] will see them out around the harbour. Scenario locations are still being finalized, but Jack Point, there will be something there, stuff in the harbour around [Saysutshun] and Protection [Island], and perhaps out into Departure Bay as well.”

Boats will be docked at the marina in between exercises, with the public welcome to get a closer look.

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Berg said they’ll do a variety of drills to fine-tune their skills, with each exercise designed to mimic real-life scenarios.

“There’ll be some first aid ones, there will be recovery of people on shore and in the water. We use dummies in the water, so you might see a dummy floating in the water off Jack Point, if you’re out in that area.”

Exercises of this nature happen once or twice a year and are used to ensure all stations are responding to the established levels of service as outlined by provincial and federal agencies, including the Canadian Coast Guard.

Crews train constantly to ensure their skills are sharp for a variety of situations, including rescues from both shore and the water. (submitted photo/RCM-SAR)

While everyone is trained using the same standards, Berg said localized refinements does creep in and can be very beneficial when shared in this sort of situation.

“When we get together for something like this, we get to see little efficiencies that people have made in the way that they’ve set up their boats, or in the way that they’re they’re doing some of our procedures…pulling people out of the water or doing shore approaches.”

Ensuring communication skills are at the highest level is also a key takeaway.

Berg said RCM-SAR team members will be on hand to answer questions from those interested in volunteering with the organization.

He added it’s a huge time commitment, but is an extremely rewarding experience for those who make the investment.

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