Our history in the local community
RCM-SAR Station 27 is located in beautiful Nanaimo, centrally located on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Our convenient location at Brechin Boat Launch allows easy access to our local waters, with our typical response area covering Nanoose Bay to Dodd Narrows, Silva Bay and beyond.
Nanaimo is home to boaters, kayakers, divers, a very active dragon boating community, as well as many campers and hikers who travel to our surrounding islands. Sailors enjoy the challenging races that take place around Nanaimo, including the Van Isle 360 and the Southern Straits Yacht Race. In addition, Nanaimo is home to two ferry terminals and two float plane bases. Station 27 strives to provide the highest standard of emergency response in this vibrant and active marine community.
Station 27 originated in the early 1990s with a handful of local boaters and divers. In 1992, a fatal marine accident raised awareness of the need for a trained fast response unit. With a Boston Whaler donated by the City of Nanaimo, the small group became part of the city’s emergency program and, in 1998, formed the Nanaimo Marine Rescue Society.
Thanks to the vision and hard work of its dedicated members, in 2002, Station 27 was able to purchase a Titan 249 RHI Delta. By 2008, the Station built a rescue station at Brechin Boat Launch. With a further desire to continue to improve our capabilities, and with great support from our community, we were able to acquire our newest vessel, a Falkins Class Type II jet boat, in 2010.
In order to keep our Station and members SAR ready 365 days a year, we engage in ongoing, challenging training. Some of our partners in training and tasking have included Ground SAR, RCMP, Nanaimo Port Authority, BC Ferries, Canadian Coast Guard, and our neighboring RCMSAR 
Stations. Nanaimo has also been involved in several larger scale SAREX events, practicing large-scale disaster response.
Station 27 is an integral part of the community and our 40(plus) volunteer members are involved in community events like the Boat Show, the Nanaimo Marine Festival and Bath Tub Races, the First Nations Tribal Journey, the Dragonboat Festival, parades and fireworks events, and many Nanaimo Yacht Club events.
