by Glenn Taylor
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Dec 12/97) - Inuvik's rivers and lakes are about to become a whole lot safer.

The North suffers the worst rate of deaths by drowning of anywhere in North America. A new Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary will help remedy the problem.

A group of volunteers -- Rick Lindsay, Donald Ross, Hank Rogers, Conrad Baets and Rob Walker -- will hit the water next summer and work directly with the Coast Guard and the RCMP to assist in any search and rescue efforts needed.

The idea to form an auxiliary group came out of a meeting with search and rescue groups from across the region, in Inuvik two weekends ago. "The idea has been kicked around for a long time, but now we're finally going," said Lindsay.

The auxiliary will be operating with a modified 22-foot aluminum boat, using global positioning satellite gear, ship radios and a variety of rescue equipment.

Despite the frozen state of rivers and lakes this time of year, the volunteers will be busy beavers this winter. Lindsay said the group will be spending this winter in training, learning more about rescue, medical training, and search techniques.

"The delta and the rivers will be our primary protection area," said Lindsay. "But if need be, we'll help with any ocean rescues we can, although if the waves are bigger than our boat, we'll be staying home," he laughed.

The group will also be involved in boat inspections, ensuring boaters have proper safety gear on board, such as bailing cans, flares, etc.

"The whole thing is about reducing water death in the territory -- we have the highest rate of water deaths anywhere," said Lindsay.

Some of that is due to neglect, he said, but others can be blamed on the extreme conditions that the North often imposes on travellers. "You can get in trouble in a big hurry out here."

The auxiliary is a brand new concept for Inuvik, but Hay River and Yellowknife have had such groups for years now.