Canadian Yachting December 2021 - 51

the coast guard. She would tour Ontario waterfront events
providing safe boating information and advice to the local
community. Heather lived with us that summer in Sarnia. The
stories she shared with her young cousins (our son Owen and
our daughter Andris) left a lasting impression.
           
McMaster University. He wanted to experience another part of
Canada and accepted a posting in Lewisporte, Newfoundland
where he served four seasons until graduation.
The rugged beauty of Newfoundland's shoreline, combined
with the wildlife and numerous icebergs, created a picturesque
background when he was not assisting in search and rescue
         
drop by with that day's catch, which became the main course
that night.
A few years later, Andris, while at Queen's University, became
a crew member at the Britt station on Georgian Bay and, later,
Thames on Lake St. Clair. Although both in Ontario, Britt and
Thames were opposites in setting and SAR demands. While
Britt is set in the beautiful yet challenging 30,000 island cot
        cant
boating activity from both Canada and the United States.
Owen and Andris have great stories of the people, places
and situations they experienced. Lifelong skills were gained
from the intensive coast guard formal training they received
annually prior to and during the summer. In fact, 15 percent
of their work time was spent training. Personally, they gained
          
and were rewarded with the satisfaction of providing aid to
boaters in times of distress.
A highlight for the two was when they were able to work
together as part of the coast guard response providing rescue
services during the unsanctioned " Port Huron Float Down "
         
River under precarious conditions.
To apply to the IRB service, you must be:
* A full-time post-secondary student in an accredited institution
who is returning to full-time studies in your next academic
term.
           
in English to work in all other regions.
* Able to successfully obtain a government-issued reliability
security clearance, and pass a Health Canada medical clearance
which includes a hearing test, a physical examination,
a pulmonary function test and a colour-vision examination.
Security clearance and physical exams are only completed
after your selection and interview process.
Students applying for an IRB position must hold a valid stan
      
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) level C, Restricted Radio
       
in good standing with no restrictions on the use of a motor
vehicle
Applicants for the Rankin Inlet station must be Indigenous
persons who are currently registered full-time in a recognized
post-secondary institution, registered in another ongoing educational
or training program, and returning to full-time studies
at a recognized post-secondary institution or other ongoing
educational or training program in the next academic term
If you know of someone who is in post-secondary studies and
looking for an on-the-water summer job that is an adventure
and provides life skills all while serving the boating public,
recommend they investigate the IRB service. There are opportunities
throughout Canada.
If interested, they should understand all prerequisites required
to apply and be prepared for the application process. They
can learn more at https://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/search-rescue-recherche-sauvetage/irb-esc/index-eng.html
As
a follow-up to those referenced in this article:
* Upon graduation, Owen's career found him in Grimsby, Ontario.
Looking to continue assisting boaters in need, Owen
joined GAMRU South Shore Search and Rescue (http://www.
gamru.ca), a volunteer SAR organization at the southwest end
of Lake Ontario.
* Andris completed her studies at Queens and is now a yearround
student working towards her PhD at Western University.
CANADIANYACHTING.CA
51

https://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/search-rescue-recherche- sauvetage/irb-esc/index-eng.html http://www http://www.gamru.ca http://www.CANADIANYACHTING.CA

Canadian Yachting December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting December 2021