Boating

Members of a ground search and rescue team walk along the shore of the Bay of Fundy in Hillsburn, N.S. as they look for five fishermen missing after the scallop dragger Chief William Saulis sank in the Bay of Fundy, on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. As Canadian fishers continue to die in frigid waters when their boats capsize, a debate is surfacing over why clear rules aren’t in place to ensure basic stability of vessels that face ocean storms.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Amid fishing deaths, calls rise for Canada’s small boats to have stability checks

Transport Canada: Regulation would be ‘functionally challenging and prohibitively expensive’

 

In 2022, the BC Conservation Officer Service completed its ninth consecutive boat safety patrol program. Twenty one patrols were conducted on six priority bodies of water in the North Okanagan and Shuswap. (BC Conservation Officer Service photo)

Many lake enthusiasts in North Okanagan, Shuswap break laws over summer

Conservation officers patrolling lakes and rivers in 2022 report 71% non-compliance

 

Photo of a boat posted to Facebook that was dumped on East Kelowna road. (Facebook)

Dumped boat makes waves in Okanagan

A boat was dumped in the middle of Bedford Road on Dec. 5

 

Laura Robertson and daughter Shar Gale visit Chemainus Lake every Nov. 25 on the anniversary of Brayden Gale’s tragic death there. The memorial there and the presence of a lifesaving ring give them comfort. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Memories of Brayden Gale remain strong for family after seven years

Life saving ring at Chemainus Lake where tragedy occurred a source of some comfort

Laura Robertson and daughter Shar Gale visit Chemainus Lake every Nov. 25 on the anniversary of Brayden Gale’s tragic death there. The memorial there and the presence of a lifesaving ring give them comfort. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Commercial fishing boat the Arctic Fox II sunk off the coast of Vancouver Island in August of 2020, killing two crew members. (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission)

Insufficient maintenance contributed to fatal sinking of B.C.’s Arctic Fox II: report

Skipper and one crew member died as a result of the incident, one crew member survived

Commercial fishing boat the Arctic Fox II sunk off the coast of Vancouver Island in August of 2020, killing two crew members. (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission)
The Port Alberni RCMP’s vessel is tied up at a wharf near the Maritime Discovery Centre. (PORT ALBERNI RCMP PHOTO)

Pair of boaters rescued after vessel sinks in Alberni Inlet

Bystanders watched as boat sank 30 metres from shore near waterfront park

The Port Alberni RCMP’s vessel is tied up at a wharf near the Maritime Discovery Centre. (PORT ALBERNI RCMP PHOTO)
Black Press Media File

Puppy still missing after boats collide in dense fog off North Island

A four month old Golden Retriever puppy was lost during the collision and has not been found

Black Press Media File
George Johnson shows off a tub racing hat from the early 1970s. The hat is fitted with ear phones and has pockets that contained a radio and batteries, so safety crews and race officials could listed to reports on the race progress. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Rub-a-dub-dub: Nanaimo family keeping up 55-year tradition of tub racing

Johnson family’s old racing tub being refurbished to enter Sunday’s Nanaimo bathtub race

George Johnson shows off a tub racing hat from the early 1970s. The hat is fitted with ear phones and has pockets that contained a radio and batteries, so safety crews and race officials could listed to reports on the race progress. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Lake Country RCMP Detachment (Brittany Webster)

Man drowns while helping another person on Okanagan’s Wood Lake

B.C. Coroner Service attended the scene

Lake Country RCMP Detachment (Brittany Webster)
Yachts are coming into Nanaimo Harbour by the boatload as the craft are transferred from ports in the Caribbean, Florida and Mexico to B.C. the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Many of the craft, unloaded Thursday, July 7, from the cargo ship AAL Genoa, are destined for Vancouver. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Cargo ship delivers boatload of boats to Nanaimo

More than 20 yachts brought from the Caribbean and Mexico

Yachts are coming into Nanaimo Harbour by the boatload as the craft are transferred from ports in the Caribbean, Florida and Mexico to B.C. the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Many of the craft, unloaded Thursday, July 7, from the cargo ship AAL Genoa, are destined for Vancouver. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Dorothy bound for Salt Spring Island in 1910. (Photo submitted)

125-year-old sailboat being ferried from Gabriola Island to its new home berth

Ladysmith Maritime Society will care for Dorothy until Maritime Museum of B.C. finds permanent home

Dorothy bound for Salt Spring Island in 1910. (Photo submitted)
Mark Pavesic reels in a small mouth bass from Elk Lake, near Victoria, BC. Kelsey Pavesic photo

Let Outdoors West be your guide to the great outdoors this summer!

Magazine shares the how-to and where-to of exploring Western Canada’s natural spaces

Mark Pavesic reels in a small mouth bass from Elk Lake, near Victoria, BC. Kelsey Pavesic photo
A vessel burns off the coast of Qualicum Beach on May 23. (Petra Hergt photo)

2 people rescued after boat catches fire, sinks off Qualicum Beach

Craft had approximately 1,000 litres of diesel fuel on board

A vessel burns off the coast of Qualicum Beach on May 23. (Petra Hergt photo)
Last year, RCMSAR volunteers from 31 marine rescue stations across coastal and inland B.C. responded to 515 calls for help on the water, assisting and saving 455 people’s lives.

RCMSAR reminds you to ‘call for help immediately’ when facing a marine emergency

If you experience an emergency on the water, call for help immediately.…

  • May 23, 2022
Last year, RCMSAR volunteers from 31 marine rescue stations across coastal and inland B.C. responded to 515 calls for help on the water, assisting and saving 455 people’s lives.
VicPD have arrested a man after an attemped arson incident on an occupied boat in Esquimalt Wednesday morning. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fire fails to ignite, man arrested after gas poured on occupied Esquimalt boat

Police say 2 people onboard when gas poured onto boat Wednesday, parties knew each other

VicPD have arrested a man after an attemped arson incident on an occupied boat in Esquimalt Wednesday morning. (Black Press Media file photo)
A Canadian coalition is calling for restrictions on boating noise as Transport Canada asks for public feedback on the issue. (Pixabay photo)

B.C. groups want to restrict noisy boats as Transport Canada looks at options

Decibel Coalition members advocating for limits for boat manufacturers and users

A Canadian coalition is calling for restrictions on boating noise as Transport Canada asks for public feedback on the issue. (Pixabay photo)
Harmen Bootsma in front of his office at the Chemainus dock. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Harbour views the ideal spot for 20+ years on the job

Retiree reflects on all his experiences with so many fantastic people

Harmen Bootsma in front of his office at the Chemainus dock. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Rescuers and survivors stand on the rocky shore off Ucluelet’s Amphitrite Point as an overturned 21-foot centre console sports fishing boat bobs upside down. (Louis Rouleau photo)

Three men survive capsized boat off Ucluelet’s stormy Wild Pacific Trail

Trio plucked off rocky shore by Ucluelet Fire Rescue in ‘horrible conditions’

Rescuers and survivors stand on the rocky shore off Ucluelet’s Amphitrite Point as an overturned 21-foot centre console sports fishing boat bobs upside down. (Louis Rouleau photo)
The Bulk Pangaea, a 225-metre bulk carrier, picked up Shuswap resident Don Cavers (at back with white hair) in a life raft in the Caribbean Sea in mid-December 2021 and took him to Jamaica after his disabled sailboat crashed on a reef. (Photo contributed)

VIDEO: Shuswap man defies odds when his tiny life raft found in Caribbean Sea

Blind Bay resident floats for six days, consuming only nacho chips, crackers and tiny fish

The Bulk Pangaea, a 225-metre bulk carrier, picked up Shuswap resident Don Cavers (at back with white hair) in a life raft in the Caribbean Sea in mid-December 2021 and took him to Jamaica after his disabled sailboat crashed on a reef. (Photo contributed)
Registration is open for the FGPC Comox Dragon Boat Festival. Photo supplied

Comox to host a dragon boat festival in June

FGPC Comox Dragon Boat Festival one of five Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Series stops

Registration is open for the FGPC Comox Dragon Boat Festival. Photo supplied