NUNAVUT
The Coast Guard wants to give Nunavummiut benefits for a service they already provide to their communities.

Superintendent of search-and-rescue and Canadian Coast Guard for the Central and Arctic Region Peter Garapick, training and exercise officer Mark Gagnon and executive manager for Coast Guard Auxiliary in the Central and Arctic Region Shannon Laird hosted a recruitment session in Iqaluit Jan. 30. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo

That was the message at a Coast Guard Auxiliary recruitment session in Iqaluit Jan. 30. And that's the message superintendent of search-and-rescue and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) for the Central and Arctic Region Peter Garapick was spreading last week to several other communities, including Kimmirut, Coral Harbour and Rankin Inlet.

After Garapick outlined the various roles of the CCG, with specific attention to marine search-and-rescue, executive manager of the Auxiliary for Central and Arctic Region Shannon Laird explained the CCG Auxiliary is a volunteer, non-profit charitable organization.

"Ontario has the bulk of units, but I'm pretty sure once we're done with this (recruitment in Nunavut) project, you'll be outnumbering them," said Laird.

Nunavut currently has six units, including in Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk and Pangnirtung, with nine vessels registered to the program and 25 members.

"To start a unit, first thing - we need boats. If we can identify boats, community boats or boat owners that are willing to offer their boats ... we need to start with boats," said Laird.

After outlining the steps to set up a unit, Laird listed benefits: units are compensated for fuel used during an authorized search-and-rescue mission or training event and the use of a personal vessel is paid at the rate of $185.61 per hour. As well, when a registered personal vessel is used it is insured by the CCG Auxiliary. Members are also insured while on a mission. There are also tax deductions and up to 45 per cent off on First Air flights for Auxiliary members.

"Again, you're doing it (search-and-rescue) now and you're not covered," said Laird, adding recognition comes to members for every five years of service via a national awards program.

Glenn Williams and Adamee Itorcheak, among 15 others at the recruitment session, recalled a first attempt at starting a CCG Auxiliary unit in the capital in 2000, when Iqaluit became the first Nunavut community with a unit. The experience clearly left sour feelings.

"It started and it disappeared," admitted Garapick. "The problem was the Coast Guard wanted to do this, they had some money, but the funding wasn't long term. In fact the Coast Guard has been experiencing cuts since about 1995. Now, with the current government, it's expanding and growing. The money for the Auxiliary is here to stay."

There is $1.1 million set aside for Arctic Coast Guard auxiliary operations.

"We're also going to have $1 million a year for four years to get vessels in communities that don't have vessels," he said.

"There's a real commitment to making this work."

Capt. Randy Pittman, the top instructor at the Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium's school in Iqaluit attended the session, and met that afternoon with Garapick to discuss partnership opportunities.

Garapick said 12 new units would be developed this year in the territory and 12 next year.

"Just a note to say we had a very successful meeting in Kimmirut," he stated by e-mail after the Iqaluit visit.

"Twenty-four people attended and a few boats signed up. A lot of enthusiasm and excitement about being able to respond as a CCG Auxiliary unit to people, probably their neighbours, friends or family, needing help on the water. That meeting was typical of what we have experienced throughout our Arctic travels."

Garapick said the majority of people at the Iqaluit meeting signed up and look forward to rebuilding the unit in Iqaluit.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.