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Nov 2016
RCM SAR launch their new rescue vessel by
Jane Maisonville-Phillips
R
CM SAR Station 1 unveiled their new rescue vessel on September 18 in Horseshoe Bay. With a crowd of more than 300 in attendance, mayor Michael Smith, MLA Jordan Sturdy and key station sponsors Fred McDonald of Thunder Bird Marina, Harvey Flemming of Aquatica Submarines, Jaiven Khatri of Milestones West Vancouver, and West Vancouver Rotary, cut the ribbon to welcome the new vessel. Boudewijn Neijens, Station 1 Coxswain explains: The RCM SAR 1B (yet to be officially named) is the second vessel type specifically designed for the needs of RCM SAR. It’s a 31-foot Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) with twin 250hp outboards and a maximum speed of 43 knots. Rescue vessels are often operated in extreme conditions, so this new RHIB was designed with safety, endurance and comfort in mind. The hull is built by Titan in Sidney, is extremely strong and capable of resisting the worst weather, repeated beachings and the odd encounter with a log. But the most remarkable feature is the new Integrated Control Environment (ICE) console developed by Shockwave, also in Sidney. Shockwave drew on its previous NASCAR chassis building expertise to build a suspension platform that protects all five crew members from the worst impacts of heavy seas at high speeds. The vessel is equipped with the latest generation marine electronics allowing for operation in dense fog and at night, and carries all the usual rescue equipment. It can be deployed within minutes and can be operated with a crew of two if need be, although a typical mission would include four crew. Special thanks goes to the West Vancouver Community Foundation, the Vancouver Aquarium, Blue Water Harmony, and Ginger and Snap.
Photo provided
Ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new rescue vessel.
Affordable housing - a hot topic MLA Update Jordan Sturdy
T
he definition of affordability is elusive, despite being commonly referred to when talking about housing in West Vancouver. Clearly, affordability is relative and subjective. Perhaps what is more useful is a discussion of policy objectives that a community may want to achieve. Along the Sea to Sky Corridor in Whistler, it was recognized almost 20 years ago that if consideration was not given to housing options for employees they would be priced out of the market, as has happened
in places like Aspen, and only a very limited demographic would reside in the community. Everyone else would be forced to commute increasingly long distances, traffic flow would deteriorate, emissions would increase and quality of life would suffer. Teachers, health care workers, and firefighters, not to mention Safeway employees and the local barista would, in reality, make their homes in other communities. So a new policy objective was born. Whistler hoped to achieve the retention of 75% of its employees within the municipality. Over the following decades, through density bonusing and amenity contributions, working with the development community and Provincial and Federal governments, many different models of employee restricted rental and fee simple ownership structures were
Your health matters. Make it a top priority. ON TIME • UNHURRIED • COMPREHENSIVE
implemented. Some succeeded and others failed but while trial-and-error has been a difficult master, always keeping an eye on the objective has ultimately driven success. Whistler has surpassed their objective and 80% of the people employed in Whistler, live in Whistler. And Whistler is better for it. The community has a healthy mixed demographic, residents have shorter commutes as well as free time to contribute and put a real stake in the success of the community. As the Provincial Government has committed $500 million dollars to “affordable” housing across the province and developers are clamouring for opportunity in West Vancouver, the time is right to better define what we are trying to achieve. Jordan.sturdy.mla@ leg.bc.ca or 604.922.1153
Contact us today Terri Thompson at tthompson@copemanhealthcare.com or 604-707-2273 www.copemanhealthcare.com West Vancouver, 200-545 Clyde Ave Vancouver, 400-1128 Hornby Street