Delta's Coast Guard Auxiliary may have a new name but its volunteers are still committed to promoting safety and helping boaters on local waters.
The group is now known as Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 8 - Delta.
Station 8 leader Capt. Jeff Engholm said the previous name led many people to believe the group was the Canadian Coast Guard.
"Our emphasis was to be recognized as a volunteer marine search and rescue group," he said, adding the station receives no government funding and relies on community donations to remain in operation.
The group still has the same ties to the Coast Guard - its training, standards and guidelines are all set by the government organization. Station 8 is the only Coast Guard recognized search and rescue group in Delta, Engholm added.
Nothing else has changed for Station 8. The group's mandate remains to promote safe boating practices while responding to marine emergencies.
Volunteers are on call seven days a week, 365 days a year, ready to respond to any emergency on the water.
The unit covers an area that measures 600 square miles - a large portion of the southern end of the Strait of Georgia. The next closest Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue station is in Crescent Beach and there is another in Steveston.
The Delta station is based out of the Point Roberts Marina.
When a call comes into the Joint Rescue Centre for an incident within the Delta station's coverage area, a page is sent out to all members on call at the time. Members are on call for a week at a time, and it is not unusual for crew members to get calls for service at all hours of the day and night.
Engholm said the coxswain in charge that week will call the border authority to let them know members are on their way to the Point Roberts Marina to respond to a call.
The border guards at the Point Roberts crossing have a list of all the volunteers and allow them to cross quickly when responding to a call.
"We have a great relationship with both entities," Engholm said of the American and Canadian border officials.
The station is always on the lookout for new volunteers, Engholm said. The group currently has 31 volunteers but there is a need for more.
No prior boating experience is required and all the training is free. The training process is intense and the group is looking for a minimum two-year commitment.
Volunteer Jenna MacKay has been with the group for a year.
An aspiring firefighter, MacKay said the training is intense and in-depth, but rewarding.
"The biggest thing is it's a team effort," she said. "Every aspect of it is team work."
Aside from the new name, Station 8 recently acquired a new boat and is currently fundraising for a new trailer for the vessel.
A fundraiser is planned for the Rose and Crown Pub in Tsawwassen on Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.
There will be prizes, a silent auction and 50/50 draw, as well as lots of information about the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.
