Every year the Canadian government and a province or territory put on the SARSCENE Conference and Tradeshow. This year it was British Columbia’s turn hosting in Victoria just across Georgia Straight from our office in Richmond. Getting there on Thursday should have been a quick 30 minute flight in a DeHavilland DHC-3 Turbine Single Otter on Harbour Air. Unfortunately the remains of Tropical Storm Ling Ling had other ideas. Frank and I ended up re-routing to Nanaimo, further up Vancouver Island and taking the bus down the Island Highway. Fortunately, we arrived a few hours late and didn’t require any SAR assistance!

At the show, we introduced our new Swift Water Rescue Dry Suit and Ice Commander. We got very positive feedback from many of the visitors, from all over Canada, the US and far away places like Ireland and even New Zealand! It was also a great opportunity to meet many of the rescue professionals that use our products and get their feedback and suggestions.

One of the highlights of the event was the mock rescue staged with planes, helicopters, ships, hovercraft and trained technicians needed to save several people in distress on a fishing vessel appearing like it was on fire. It was great to see the Canadian Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Canadian Forces and volunteer organizations come together to rescue people in the water in immersion suits, people on a rescue boat and some still on the boat.

If you ever get a chance to take in one of these live demonstrations its well worth the time.