George Holmes is involved in many aspects of the Sooke Community, including the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary #37 Sooke, Juan de Fuca Marine Rescue Society, West Coast Fly Fishers, Ayre Manor, and the Sooke Community Development Association. In 2006-2009 he was a high profile as the Station Leader for the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary #37 Sooke.

From the Coast Guard #37's Ship's Log, September 22, 2007:

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! My dreams are interrupted by the Coast Guard Auxiliary pager on my night table.
The time on the pager is 4:02 am and the message is ‘22222’ which means night crew report to the rescue vessel ‘Spirit of Sooke’ and the duty coxswain is to call the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) for further details of a rescue tasking.

“A 32’ power boat has dragged its anchor in Sooke Basin near the entrance to Roche Cove and is in danger of going aground on the rugged shoreline. “There are 3 persons aboard” I was informed by JRCC. As the duty coxswain in charge of the crew that night, I would be responsible for briefing the crew as they arrived at the dock, and to plan the rescue of the stricken vessel and its crew.

On the drive to the dock, I noted that it had rained earlier that evening, the wind was blowing from west south-west at 15 knots, the visibility was restricted by low clouds and it was an extreme low tide. I was the first to arrive at the dock. I punched in the gate code and proceeded down the ramp. Due to the low tide, the ramp was unusually steep.

About half way down disaster struck! My left foot skidded on the icy surface of the ramp my right foot broke my fall as I skidded down the remaining section of the ramp. I laid there for a few moments on my back with my right foot underneath my left leg. As the crew arrived, they decided to call for an ambulance. The paramedics confirmed that my right ankle appeared to be dislocated or broken. An x-ray confirmed a broken ankle and I went into surgery the next day. Two months of physiotherapy followed.

Why do we subject ourselves to this possible pain and suffering? After all we are VOLUNTEERS. Like members of the volunteer fire department, our individual reasons for serving are varied. Some members volunteer to give something back to their community, and some for the excitement of testing their physical and mental endurance under extreme marine conditions. The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary receives contribution funding from the Canadian Coast Guard to help cover the cost of fuel for our rescue vessel while responding to incidents or for on-the-water training exercises. We raise our own funds through our support society – Juan de Fuca Marine Rescue Society, to purchase our equipment and rescue vessel, and to provide training for our volunteer crews. Our goal is to maintain 24/7 availability for marine search and rescue.

In British Columbia the Coast Guard Auxiliary has 55 stations scattered along the coastal and interior waters and 81 rescue vessels. We operate with just over 1,000 volunteer marine search and rescue members. In the past 12 months we have responded to over 800 rescue incidents. Over 900 people have been assisted and 174 were saved from life threatening situations. Over $20 million worth of boating assets were saved.
If you are interested in joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit www.ccga37.org . ~ George Holmes

LEADERSHIP PROFILE ~ MM