Boating

Whale watching boat captain Rodrigo Menezes was presented with the Royal Lifesaving Society’s Silver Medal of Merit award for rescuing two men after their canoe capsized in Dodd Narrows. Menezes was recognized in his absence when he could not attend the event Saturday, April 1. (Photo submitted)

Island whale watch boat captain recognized for rescuing paddlers who flipped canoe

Rodrigo Menezes receives Lifesaving Society’s Silver Medal for Merit for rescue operation

Whale watching boat captain Rodrigo Menezes was presented with the Royal Lifesaving Society’s Silver Medal of Merit award for rescuing two men after their canoe capsized in Dodd Narrows. Menezes was recognized in his absence when he could not attend the event Saturday, April 1. (Photo submitted)
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’

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
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

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)
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

Photo of a boat posted to Facebook that was dumped on East Kelowna road. (Facebook)
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 Arctic Fox II: report

The 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)
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 2020 sinking of 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)
The Port Alberni RCMP’s vessel is tied up at a wharf near the Maritime Discovery Centre. (PORT ALBERNI RCMP PHOTO)

Port Alberni RCMP rescue pair after their boat sinks in Alberni Inlet

Bystanders watched as boat sank 30 metres from shore at Canal 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
Kwakiutl First Nation blesses the grand opening of the Canadian Coast Guard’s new Port Hardy base. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

Blessing ceremony held for new coast guard station and CCGS Pachena Bay

Port Hardy businesswoman Donna Gault was the vessel sponsor for the CCGS Pachena Bay

Kwakiutl First Nation blesses the grand opening of the Canadian Coast Guard’s new Port Hardy base. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
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)

Nanaimo family keeping up 55-year tradition of tub racing

Johnson family’s old racing tub being refurbished to enter this year’s great 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

  • Jul 18, 2022
Lake Country RCMP Detachment (Brittany Webster)
Sean Smith with Island Red Cedar Construction was the first to ring the bell in the final race during Nanaimo’s Silly Boat Regatta held at Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday, July 17. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Pirates, clowns and other sailors put their best paddle forward at Silly Boat Regatta

Event held Sunday, July 17, raised money for Nanaimo Child Development Centre

Sean Smith with Island Red Cedar Construction was the first to ring the bell in the final race during Nanaimo’s Silly Boat Regatta held at Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday, July 17. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
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
Trim, a longtime Ucluetian vessel went down in flames near Qualicum on May 23. Both men aboard the vessel escaped safely thanks to the RCM-SAR Station 59 Deep Bay crew. (Photo courtesy of Patricia Garland)

Historic Ucluelet vessel goes down in flames near Qualicum

Her two-man crew escaped safely, but a legendary Ucluetian vessel is resting on the ocean floor

Trim, a longtime Ucluetian vessel went down in flames near Qualicum on May 23. Both men aboard the vessel escaped safely thanks to the RCM-SAR Station 59 Deep Bay crew. (Photo courtesy of Patricia Garland)
Nanaimo RCMP suspect a firework sparked a fire that heavily damaged a public dock at Brannen Lake. (Submitted photo)

Fireworks suspected of destroying dock at lake in Nanaimo

Boat launch dock at Brannen Lake suffered heavy damage

Nanaimo RCMP suspect a firework sparked a fire that heavily damaged a public dock at Brannen Lake. (Submitted 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)