Message from the president
Dear Members,
National Volunteer Week in Québec was held from April 24 to 30, 2022. In this regard, it is important to remember that you, our more than 750 volunteers, make a huge difference in our society. You are spread over a vast territory, extending from Cornwall to Blanc Sablon, including some tributaries, such as Rivière Saguenay, Rivière Richelieu and Rivière-des-Prairies, Lac Saint-François and Lac Saint-Louis, as well as Lac des Deux Montagnes.
The type of volunteer work that you are carrying out is undoubtedly one of the most demanding, since most of you must take, on average, some 50 hours of training before being able to take part in authorized activities.
Our primary partner, the Canadian Coast Guard, is proud to be able to count on you in an effort to improve SAR response capacity in the sectors where resources are more limited. It is your exceptional volunteer involvement that enables the Coast Guard Auxiliary to offer SAR, prevention, training, communication and human resource services. Though it is difficult to establish the exact number of volunteer hours for each year, it can be estimated to be in the tens of thousands. The number may be even higher because, unfortunately, not everyone always records all of their volunteer hours (e.g. a few hours of Zoom, administrative work, etc.). As President of this organization, I am extremely proud of the work accomplished and your limitless, dedicated involvement.
During the last few months of fiscal year 2021-22, we managed to catch up on a significant backlog concerning marine basic first aid training that developed because of the on-going pandemic. More than 200 people attended these training sessions, made possible through the Training Service, with the support of assistants, our instructors and the use of a recognized private enterprise. Authorization was received to record some expenditures for the month of March 2022 in last year’s budget, given the delivery timeframes that were hard for suppliers to respect due to the pandemic.
In 2021-22, a number of our unit leaders, with the support of the HR assistant, were involved in recruiting new volunteers. The criminal background check process for new applicants appears to be irritating for more than one. I’d like to confirm that our DG, Louis Melançon, is working closely with SQ representatives in order to reduce the response time to no more than 4 or 5 weeks. I invite you to consult the article written by Louis.
The CCGA National Council held a virtual meeting with our new National Chair, Randy Strand. A few priorities were established by our Chair:
- Finalize the ongoing recruitment process for the position of Executive Director National (four nominations were received) located in Ottawa
- Meet with CCG leadership
- Prepare for the renewal of the Contribution Agreement for the CCGA’s 6 regions.
The new 2022 navigation season is already under way. I encourage you to exercise caution in all of your activities and wish you great season. And I would like to repeat my sincerest thanks for your volunteer involvement, which is so very appreciated.
Message from the Director General
Protecting our members: it starts with an AUTHORIZATION NUMBER
As this new season gets under way, a number of activities are gradually resuming in person. We cannot stress enough the importance of obtaining an authorization number for each of our CCGA activities. Each member needs to insist on being given an authorization at the beginning of each activity. The issuance of an authorization number triggers insurance coverage in the event of an accident. Our policies and bylaws also require that an authorization number be obtained.
It is your RIGHT! It is your PRIVILEGE! But it is also an OBLIGATION!
Every person in charge of an activity must make certain that this precious number is given to each participant. Not only so that they are insured, but also to be able to prepare their expense claim, if so entitled.
Remember: It is just as important to sign the ACTIVITY REPORT! Doing so confirms that you were actually present.
Introduction to the Organization course
This course is mandatory for all new members as well as for those members who hope to hold official functions within our organization. That said, I nonetheless encourage all members to take this training when given in your area.
The course will enable you to learn more about all how our organization works. At the same time, it is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and seek clarifications concerning all the CCGA bylaws, policies and procedures. Having a better understanding of them means less frustration and loss of time.
I would like to remind you that in each area, facilitators have been specially selected and are available once a group can be formed. Look into it!
The start of operations
At the beginning of each spring, Jocelyn Coulterman, our Operations and Maintenance Officer, works in close collaboration with the Operations and Prevention services to ensure that our AVs are inspected and that they are in compliance with regulatory requirements and with our internal policies.
Taking care of our vessels is like taking care of our members!
Message from the Directors
Message from the Northern and Arctic Development Director
In the “North” restrictions are being lifted more slowly!
A few weeks ago, Québec public health authorities announced a tentative schedule for the reduction of health measures put in place to combat this sixth wave of the pandemic. Finally, I thought, after two years of waiting, we will be able to continue where we left off in the development of Nunavik Area 6 and start work on James Bay Area 7. I was feeling optimistic and took out our work plan for the coming season. I got in touch with the areas and it didn’t take long for me to be brought back to reality: nothing is the same in the North!
Eeyou Istchee Baie James informed me that, of course, there were still no flights available to this territory and that, despite the announcements, the band councils decided to maintain several measures. I looked into it and realized that only preventive confinement had been abolished. This was just a simple reminder that the Arctic has its own issues and that nothing is the same in these regions.
There is no need for me to remind you that these communities live in a reality that is different from ours, in terms of their isolation, their proximities and their means, which differ from major centres. Understandably, local governments want to protect their communities and restrict the presence of visitors. Measures will thus remain in place for a few more weeks, allowing the authorities to analyze the results obtained in the South and lessen the impact of the lifting of the restrictions.
Locally, life goes on. With the arrival of spring, many of us are excited about the return of migratory birds, the approaching fishing season, and the ice melt, making it possible to navigate toward the hunting and fishing territory. For Area 7 in James Bay, we will begin classroom training at Waskaganish U80 and will begin recruiting for the other units Eastmain U81, Wemindji U82 and Chisasibi U83. As for Nunavik Area 6, we want to continue recruiting and complete the training of Inukjuaq U62, Quaqtaq U68 and Kangirsuk U69, while pursuing our development.
We are confident that we will soon be able to visit you again. Please rest assured that we are really looking forward to seeing you.
Message from the Prevention Director
As the new Prevention Director, I found the spring to be very busy. All the updates have been made on Zoom, in French and in English, and for all areas. The participation rate was excellent and everyone appreciated the formula used. Given that, it will very likely be retained for the years to come. This means that advisors will be as active during the Québec Boating Safety Awareness Week (June 15 to 22) as they are during the season. Boaters are waiting for us. It’s important that we not forget those who are not in marinas: shoreline residents, launching ramps…. It is also nice to go out in teams of 2 or more or during patrols….
Bobbie
To help Pierre Archambault with Bobbie, Nicole Girard Bourgeois, from Unit 22, has joined the team responsible for Bobbie.
We are always looking for interested members to operate and accompany our boating show star, Bobbie. Once you get to know Bobbie, you’ll see that he is easy to use. Members who work with Bobbie have only positive feedback to give about their experience. Both adults and children are fascinated with Bobbie. Our thanks go to Jacques Couture, André Bastille and Pierre Archambault for their preparation work and the instructional video on Bobbie.
Do not hesitate to tell your unit leader or your prevention assistant if you are interested in joining the Bobbie team. A training session will soon be held.
Intro to prevention
Soon, all interested members will have access to the “Introduction to prevention” training. This training has been updated and overhauled by Simon Olivier Bertrand.
Various pilot projects will be conducted over the coming season; we’ll soon be providing more information on them. We would like to thank the units that participate in these projects, which we hope will be shared and carried out by other units next season.
In closing, I would like to remind everyone that the Prevention Service always encourages members to share any good ideas that they may have. This enables us to continue to move forward.
For your information: Advisor to the Director, Louise Laramée: laralou3@hotmail.com
Message from the Training Director
As you probably know, I am a brand-new Acting Training Director. I would like that the “newness” be because of my age, but no, it’s because I was nominated in February 2022. Just before me, Richard Bastien had made some nominations, which you will see in the image below. Since February, Alain Beaulieu has joined the Training Group as Area 4 assistant. I would like to express my gratitude to the members of this great team. It is very much a real pleasure to work with you.
As you may recall, in February 2022, we began a “Basic Marine First Aid” course blitz. By the time you read this article, this training will still be ongoing, interspersed with “Rescuer I” training to ensure that we have as many members as possible ready for the summer. As soon as AVs are put in the water, “Practical Towing” training will begin, followed by “Familiarization with Night Navigation” and some “Search Techniques and Operations” training. Your training assistants, SAR instructors and Red Cross monitors are actively striving to offer you a great development experience and I thank them for that!!!
All of this enabled us to make some observations in terms of First Aid. Ginette Traversy and I have made a few purchases, we updated Worksheet 14 First Aid Kit - Inventory and worked on the EpiPen and Narcan files, which are included in the program. We are very proud of these developments ahead of the summer season.
Hubert Desgagnés, Serge Jacques and, more recently, Marc Macot, have been working very hard on a major overhaul of our Rescuer I and Rescuer II programs. Without losing our SAR focus, we are introducing SDV-BS and SVOP modules, which will soon allow more members to obtain commercial nautical certificates. SDV-BS stands for “Small Domestic Vessel Basic Safety” and replaces the former MED-A3 which will be recognized by equivalence. SVOP stands for “Small Vessel Operator Proficiency”. We will be providing you with more information on all of these files as soon as possible. Our goal is to soon have this training available in French and English for use in Areas 1 to 7.
We remain hopeful that the changes we have made to adapt to COVID-19 will enable us to finally have a confinement-free winter, so that you may take advantage of all the training being offered!!
Message from the Human Resources Director
The changing face of volunteerism in Québec
At the CCGA-Q, as is the case for all not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) in Québec, future volunteers come knocking on the door throughout the year. These volunteer applications must therefore be processed by the NPOs as they arise.
The Réseau d’action bénévole du Québec conducted a study in 2018. Some significant findings are presented below.
Why do people become volunteers?
How long do they continue volunteering?
To retain our volunteers for a long time, we need to determine how to welcome members into the units and keep them active and connected.
This challenge can be met in a number of ways, with each option worth considering. If you have an idea, please share it with your unit leader.
Message from the Communications Director
ACTIONS THAT SPEAK VOLUMES
The 2021-2022 Communications Team carried out more than 20 different activities in the past year, in addition to providing support to units that so requested. Accompanied by its partners, the Team held over 45 media activities over that same period.
Proud of its achievements, the Team also brilliantly manages the Auxiliary’s Facebook page, which has more than 3000 subscribers. In March 2022, the page reached 91 000 people, who had viewed, read or “liked” something on it. If you have not yet subscribed to it, we encourage you to join us.
For the year 2022-2023, the Communications Team, working together with you, plans to continue its various activities, such as the Québec Safe Boating Awareness Week, Le Dauphin, the ongoing development of the Facebook page, etc. As always, we keep our finger on the pulse of our organization; please let us know if you need anything.
Lastly, for more information on our overview of the past year, our projections for the coming year and some current issues, please go to SMS/GISAR and read the full version of our report, presented at the last AGM.
ACTIONS THAT SPEAK VOLUMES…
ACTIONS THAT SAY HOW PROUD WE ARE TO TEAM UP WITH YOU!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CCGA (Q) 2021-2022
Elections and Appointments 2022-2023
Introduction of CCGA(Q) Board Members, Zone Directors, and Assistants for 2022-2023.
I am pleased to announce the members of your Board of Directors for 2022-2023, following the last AGM held by video conference on March 12:
- President : André Audet
- Director General: Louis Melançon
- Secretary: Anita Pedneault
- Treasurer: Daniel Michaud
- Prevention Director : Chantal D’Allaire
- Communications Director: Pauline Girard
- Operations Director: Claude Fortin
- Human Resources Director: Michel Lambert
- Arctic Development Director: Serge Jacques
- Training Director (Intérim): Michel Bourgeois
Following the AGM, I confirm the election of :
- Claude Fortin as Operations Director
- Chantal D’Allaire as Prevention Director
- Serge Jacques as Arctic Development Director
- Daniel Michaud as Treasurer
- Anita Pedneault as Secretary
The 2022-2023 Zone Directors are:
- Zone 1 : Lucie Lessard
- Zone 2 : John Ted Savage
- Zone 3 : Patrick Gagné
- Zone 4 : Jason Rodgers
- Zone 5 : Patrick Wilhelmy
- Zone 6 : Michael Cameron
- Zone 7 : to be filled
The 2022-2023 assistants are:
Communications Assistants:
- Zone 1 : Émile Bélanger
- Zone 2 : Pierre-Luc Morin
- Zone 3 : Pauline Girard (Interim) to be filled
- Zone 4 : Pauline Girard (Interim) to be filled
- Zone 5 : Luc Gauthier
- Zone 6 : to be filled
- Zone 7 : to be filled
Training Assistants:
- Zone 1 : Lucie Lessard (Interim) to be filled
- Zone 2 : René Bernier
- Zone 3 : Éric Tremblay
- Zone 4 : Alain Beaulieu
- Zone 5 : Martin Tremblay – Serge Ouellet (temporary)
- Zone 6 : to be filled
- Zone 7 : to be filled
Prevention Assistants:
- Zone 1 : André Couturier
- Zone 2 : Simon-Olivier Bertrand
- Zone 3 : Chantal D’Allaire (Interim) to be filled
- Zone 4 : André Bastille
- Zone 5 : Chantal D’Allaire (Interim) to be filled
- Zone 6 : to be filled
- Zone 7 : to be filled
Human Resources Assistants:
- Zone 1 : Yanick Emond (Interim) to be filled
- Zone 2 : Gaston Ledeuil
- Zone 3 : Yanick Emond
- Zone 4 : Hugo St-Laurent
- Zone 5 : Suzanne D’Allaire
- Zone 6 : to be filled
Finally, I would like to wish you a great sailing season and a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction as you volunteer with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Everyone’s involvement and commitment are essential to the success of our mission!