Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary – Maritimes

May 24, 2017

The most recent issue of Boating Industry Canada contained a letter from a reader emphasising the importance of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) to boaters on the Great Lakes. Here in the Maritimes the CCGA is essential to the safety of mariners, with more challenging waters and large fishing fleets. Tim Edwards executive director of the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association (NSBA) says there are almost 9,000 commercial fishing boats in our waters, which means thousands of lives. Our recreational boating community may be smaller than Central Canada’s, but it is spread out over a huge area from the Bay of Fundy, along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, to the Gulf of S. Lawrence.

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Maritimes (CCGA-M) is a non-profit organization and a registered charity made up of 800 volunteer members and 462 privately owned vessels throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Iles de la Madeleine. The CCGA-M has been in existence since 1978 and provides assistance to the Canadian Coast Guard and the National Defence with search and rescue and safe boating programs.
The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Maritimes (CCGA-M) is an organization dedicated to on water, Search and Rescue (SAR) and safe boating activities. Their mission is to provide a permanent day and night search and rescue service to cover marine requirements in the maritime region and prevent the loss of life and injury.

CCGA Mission Statement

To fulfill this mission, our objectives are to:

• Save 100% of lives at risk;
• Reduce the number and severity of SAR incidents;
• Promote marine safety;
• Support the Canadian Coast Guard;
• Provide a humanitarian service;
• Maintain the highest professional standards;
• Promote dedication and pride of membership.

Auxiliary members not only support the Coast Guard with Search and Rescue missions, but also other community on water events such as the Big Swim event from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island, Chester Race Week in Nova Scotia and high-risk fisheries across the Maritimes.

Learn more at www.ccga-m.ca