Kitsilano Canadian Coast Guard Base Formally Opens with an Enhanced Marine Safety Mandate
News Release
August 8, 2016
Vancouver, BC - The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) plays a crucial role in saving lives and protecting our waters. Canadians can rest assured that CCG’s Search and Rescue teams are ready to respond to marine emergencies within the Vancouver harbour at any given hour, of any given day.
Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, officially re-opened the Coast Guard’s Kitsilano base in Vancouver, delivering on a commitment made by the Government of Canada. The government has re-opened this important facility to ensure that an additional layer of marine Search and Rescue (SAR) and emergency environmental response are available in the Vancouver area.
The SAR network, which includes partners (Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire Department, Port of Vancouver) and Coast Guard’s Sea Island base, remains a 24/7 resource. Canadians, including B.C. residents, can be confident that the highly skilled and highly trained women and men of the Canadian Coast Guard are on the job to ensure the safety of boaters and our waterways.
Quotes
“Today, on behalf of the Government of Canada, I’m pleased to officially re-open the Kitsilano Coast Guard base and confirm that its role will be expanded to include emergency environmental response, as well as emergency response training for coastal residents and communities. In the future, Kitsilano will also serve as an incident command post which will help ensure a coordinated, timely response to environmental emergencies that may occur on the water.”
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“I want to thank Minister LeBlanc and the federal government for honouring their commitment to re-open the Kitsilano Coast Guard base. Whether for work or play, the connection to our coastal waters is part of the fabric of who we are as British Columbians. The Kitsilano Coast Guard base is an integral part of ensuring that these waters and those of us who use them are protected."
The Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia
“I’m thrilled to see the Kitsilano Coast Guard base officially re-open and resume its position as one of the most important public safety resources for Vancouver and our harbour, one of the busiest in North America. The City of Vancouver welcomes the expanded capacity of the Kitsilano Coast Guard, ensuring marine search and rescue and environmental response are available in our waterways efficiently and effectively in the event of an emergency.”
Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver
Quick Facts
- The official opening of the Coast Guard’s Kitsilano base is the first phase of an enhanced marine safety mandate along Canada’s west coast, which includes working closely with our Indigenous partners.
- In addition to bringing back the SAR services at Kitsilano, the Coast Guard has also committed to including a dedicated and enhanced environmental response capacity at the base.
- In the future, the base will incorporate an innovative training facility for coastal residents, a first of its kind, and will provide incident command capability during emergency marine incidents.
From left to right: Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of Advanced Education (Vancouver Quilchena); Jody Thomas, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard; Maureen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief; the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard; Wayne Sparrow, Musqueam Nation Chief; Ian Campbell, Squamish Nation Chief; Heather Deal, City of Vancouver Deputy Mayor; celebrate the opening of CCG Kitsilano base in Vancouver.
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Contacts:
Michelle Imbeau
Communications Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Coast Guard
604-666-2872
Patricia Bell
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
Patricia.bell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
For more information about the Canadian Coast Guard, visit www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca.
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NR-PR-16-08E
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