For those so inclined, giving back to the community can take the form of many guises.
Some volunteer at their kid’s school, some coach the soccer team, while others fundraise for the food bank or clean out kennels at the animal shelter.
Not too many jump into a boat and hit the rough seas to rescue errant or distressed sailors.
Brian Hobbs has been doing just that for 10 years, as coxswain at Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR)’s station 10 in Richmond.
Stevestonite Hobbs thinks nothing of the exploits of the search and rescue team, which takes part in 50 to 60 missions on average per year, as well as another 100 or so training days.
“I live in Steveston and I live near the water, so it seemed like an interesting way to learn new skills,” Hobbs, a Vancouver police officer, said of his decision to join the station 10 team.
“I had no boating skills at the time and it also seemed like a good way to put something back into the community.”
For the past 31 years, RCMSAR’s Richmond volunteers have dedicated countless hours to the worthy cause, scouring the waves for vessels gone adrift and pulling people out of cold water.
The organization is completely volunteer-run, as are the 40 or so other search and rescue stations throughout the province.
For more information, email [email protected].
