Thursday, July 11, 2013 5 Thursday, July 11, 2013 5
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NSR resources stretched thin right now Many of North Shore Rescue’s volunteer members take vacation in the summertime, leaving behind a void in the roster from other emergency agencies on a daily basis, said Jones. Historically, July brings the greatest call volume for NSR. “It’s not the volume that is a problem for us, it’s summer holidays,” explains Jones. “The real issue is who is in town. You can’t regulate people’s holidays when they volunteer.” On average, out of the 40 members on the NSR roster, six will answer the call in the first hour during the summer months. That’s compared to the wintertime, when half of the members are ready to go at a moment’s notice in that same time frame. Still, at any time of the year, NSR can count on mutual aid from other search and rescue teams in the Lower Mainland to fill any void in their roster. Jones has some basic advice for hikers venturing out in the woods this summer:
MARIA SPITALE-LEISK CoNtRIbutoR
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orth Shore Rescue’s resources are stretched thin in the summer months, so hikers should exercise backcountry smarts. That’s the message from NSR leader Tim Jones, after another busy weekend for his team. “People need to understand there is a certain limit to [NSR] volunteerism in the summer months,” Jones told The Outlook Monday. On Sunday (July 7), four specialized NSR members were deployed to Coquitlam around 8 a.m. to pluck a male hiker from his precarious perch above a waterfall on Burke Mountain. The team used the helicopter external transportation system, a roperescue tool co-pioneered by NSR, to reach the man. While highly technical in nature — the helicopter was rigged for a 250-foot long-line — it was a textbook rescue for NSR, who were aided by Coquitlam Search and Rescue. A week prior to that call, on June 30, a NSR team was deployed to look for two lost hikers on the lower slopes of Grouse Mountain. A pair of Korean tourists in their 20s had intended to hike the Grouse Grind, but instead became disoriented and wound up on the Baden Powell Trail. A language barrier between the tourists and their rescuers complicated matters. After a Korean-speaking RCMP
SummEr hEAT - After another busy weekend for his team, NSR leader Tim Jones is reminding hikers to be properly prepared before venturing into the woods this summer. File photo member serving as translator stepped in, a NSR search manager was able to pinpoint the duo’s location more precisely. A two-man rescue team sweeping the east bank of Mosquito Creek heard a response to their calls. They
were able to follow the stranded hikers’ screams further upstream and across the creek, before locating them on a steep slope near the Heritage Tree Trail. NSR members are summoned to the backcountry or fielding phone calls
-Stay put if you are lost. -Try and get out in the open — that’s the biggest thing, says Jones. -Tell someone where you are going. - Cellphones generally work really well. But don’t phone your family and friends for two hours and then try to call us, he adds. - And don’t rely solely on your phone’s GPS [global positioning system]; have a proper map and compass. NSR has a list of 10 backcountry essentials on their website, northshorerescue.com.
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New Community Input Opportunity
Party at the Pier is Back!
LOW LEVEL ROAD AND PORT AREA COMMUNITY LIAISON COMMITTEE The City is establishing a Community Liaison Committee to monitor activities and issues during the realignment and construction of the new Low Level Road. The committee will include five community and business representatives in the affected area to be appointed by Council. Interested residents are asked to submit a letter to the City Clerk’s Office no later than July 17. Committee details are available at www.cnv.org/LowLevelRoadCommittee. For more information about Port Metro Vancouver’s Low Level Road project, visit www.porttalk.ca
Sunday, July 14 from 11am - 5pm at The Shipyards
Harbourside On-Street Parking Assessment Open House Thursday, July 18 from 4pm - 7pm Bodwell High School, 955 Harbourside Drive (front entrance of school) The City is investigating options to improve on-street parking management within the Harbourside area. Please join City staff to learn more about the project, view the information boards and discuss future parking options. More information at www.cnv.org/ospa
Happy Birthday LEC! The City’s Lonsdale Energy Corporation (LEC) is turning 10! Incorporated in July 2003, LEC’s success has exceeded all expectations. It now provides heat and hot water to properties across the City that make up 2.9 million square feet in floor space, including almost 2,500 residential suites. Learn more at www.LonsdaleEnergy.ca 141 West 14th Street, North Vancouver BC V7M 1H9 | Tel: 604.985.7761 | Fax: 604.985.9417 | info@cnv.org
The Lower Lonsdale Business Association presents the 7th Annual Party at the Pier Family Festival. Voted one of the best musical festivals on the North Shore, this year’s event offers FREE family-friendly entertainment and activities. Come dressed in your finest pirate gear and you could take home a prize for the best costume! Activities include boat rides, food, live music and kids' activities. More information at www.cnv.org/PartyAtThePier
Annual Municipal Report Now Available The City’s Annual Municipal Report (AMR) is a local government status report outlining the City’s goals and objectives, as well as successes and achievements of the previous year. The easy to read publication includes 2012 financial statements and goals for 2013. Find out what we accomplished last year and what we’re doing this year. Copies available at City Hall or read it online. www.cnv.org/AMR