The Canadian Coast Guard has an important job all year long, but unless you’re in need of assistance or paying close attention, these professionals and the vital work they do might fade into the background. Here’s a quick catch-up on some of the Coast Guard’s latest activities, so you can join us in applauding the brave men and women who protect our waters and the people who use them.

• The Canadian Coast Guard completed their 2019 Arctic operational season in early December. Seven icebreakers headed north this year, including the newest to the fleet, CCGS Captain Molly Kool.

• This year, the environmental response programs received, investigated, and managed many marine incident reports as part of their operations. The Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Centre supported 191 vessels in the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone, with 27 vessels making full transits of the Northwest Passage.

• While the Iqaluit MCTS Centre is closed from December 20, 2019 to May 2020, Arctic vessel traffic and Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone desk operations are managed by the MCTS Centre in Prescott, Ontario.

• As part of their partnership with the Polar Bike Project, the Coast Guard delivered over 100 bicycles and helmets to Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Transportation and shipping of bikes is 100 per cent covered by Buffalo Airways and the Canadian Coast Guard.

• Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) stations in across Canada wrapped up operations in September. This program employs post-secondary students to add to the Coast Guard’s search and rescue service during the busy summer season. Lifeboat stations across the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay are staffed by Coast Guard personnel and stayed in service until November/December, whereas as in BC and the Maritimes, our Coast Guard is on duty all year.

• The Canadian and U.S. Coast Guards continue to work closely with one another, as outlined in this CBC article. According to the article and the U.S. Coast Guard, “There are roughly 100 joint cases each year between the Canadian and U.S. coast guards, and those numbers show each country helps each other out an equal amount.”

We’re all very fortunate to have the Coast Guard to protect, maintain, and patrol our waters.

Featured photo by: Letartean