HAY RIVER - After several years of laying the foundation, a Canadian Rangers patrol has been officially established in Hay River.

Davonna Kasook is the top female player in the Samuel Hearne Secondary School lunchtime soccer league. She racked up 15 goals in 11 games. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

A ceremony was held on May 21 at which a certificate was signed recognizing the patrol as the 58th in the First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, which covers all of the three northern territories.

The Hay River patrol is also the 21st in the NWT.

The certificate was signed in a ceremony at the Royal Canadian Legion by Brigadier General Guy Hamel, commander of the Canadian Armed Forces' Joint Task Force North; NWT Commissioner George Tuccaro; Mayor Kelly Schofield; Major Jeff Allen, commanding officer of the First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group; and Warren Gibb, the Canadian Rangers sergeant in Hay River.

"It's a culmination of two-and-a-half years of hard work and commitment by members of the patrol and Hay Riverites helping us get to this stage," Gibb said of the official launch. "It's a big event for us."

Patrol members are ready to continue training, he added. "We're now here officially, so it's a positive benefit to the community."

Hay River Canadian Ranger Jim Constable, who completed training a year ago in Whitehorse, Yukon, said the official launch is a proud moment for patrol members.

"I've noticed quite a bit of pride when we all get together as a group and we successfully complete something, you can see the pride in people's eyes and you can feel it almost," Constable said.

After inspecting the patrol, Hamel congratulated the members, noting Canadian Rangers play an important role in Canada's North.

"Canadians are extremely proud of the North and you're one of the main symbols of it," he said.

Canadian Rangers, who are attached to the Canadian Armed Forces as army reserves, serve a number of roles, including assisting with ground search and rescue, surveillance and sovereignty, delivering humanitarian aid and helping in times of natural disasters.

Tuccaro also congratulated members of the new patrol.

"When you volunteer to join the Canadian Rangers, you are ready to become a leader in your community," the commissioner said, adding they will represent Hay River and Canada's North with honour, dignity and confidence.

Schofield predicted the new patrol will do well.

"Our community is very proud that this many strong volunteers have given their time and resources to be an integral part of our community and the Canadian military," the mayor said.

Gibb noted the first Canadian Ranger in Hay River was trained in 2008, while he personally was trained in 2009 and began recruiting more members.

Currently, the patrol has 19 members and is responsible for an area within a 150-km radius of Hay River.

"We're looking for more members. I'd like to see the patrol grow up to about 40," Gibb said, adding that number is achievable. "We want to get good, solid people who are familiar with the community and are long-term residents or planning to stay here long term."

As part of their training, the Hay River Canadian Rangers conducted a four-day patrol along the shores of Great Slave Lake in March. Another patrol is being planned for late September and early October.

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