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Marine SAR

Robert Petitpas, former Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA), passed away on June 20, 2006 at the age of 70.

An integral member of the CCGA, Mr. Petitpas’ unparalleled dedication will remain an inspiration to the SAR community. His many achievements include organizing the first International SAR competition in 2000, developing of the First Edition of the CCGA National Training Standards and signing the Tri-Party Memorandum of Understanding between the CCGA, Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Directorate and the Canadian Coast Guard, among many others.

Mr. Petitpas joined the CCGA Quebec in 1981 and immediately became the founding commander of the 22nd Rescue Unit in Sorel.

When Mr. Petitpas took over as President of CCGA Quebec in 1993, the Association had 440 members and 169 vessels that responded to 328 taskings. Under his leadership and dedication, CCGA Quebec grew to 654 members and conducted 397 SAR missions in 2005.

Mr. Petitpas will be deeply missed by the boating, volunteer and search and rescue communities.

Malcolm Dunderdale has been elected to replace Mr. Petitpas as the Chief Executive Officer of the CCGA. Mr. Dunderdale is President of the CCGA Pacific and will be replaced in that role by Bruce Falkins, Vice President of CCGA Pacific.

John Butler, the Assistant Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard (Newfoundland and Labrador region), received the 2006 APEX Partnership Award at the May symposium for developing a new arrangement between Canada and France, which for the first time allowed for joint search and rescue efforts in the waters off St. Pierre and Miquelon. He also made a special effort to reach out to the volunteer Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA), leading to faster and more effective response during marine search and rescue incidents, improvements to public safety education and an expansion of the Auxiliary’s membership to about 1,000 members and 464 vessels.

Fred Perkins

Transport Canada’s 2006 Marine Safety Award was awarded posthumously to Fred Perkins. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to Canadian maritime safety. His wife, Sharon Perkins, accepted the award at the biannual meeting of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council. Mr. Perkins was an advocate of building a stronger marine safety culture and improving marine investigation principles and practices. He passed away in 2005.

CDR Rick Button replaces Dan Lemon as Chief, SAR Coordination Division for the United States Coast Guard.

William (Bill) Elliott, currently Associate Deputy Minister, Public Safety and formerly Deputy Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard and ADM Safety and Security at Transport Canada, was presented with an honorary diploma from the Canadian Coast Guard College at the college graduation ceremony in Sydney on June 3.

Gerard McDonald, former Director General of Marine Safety at Transport Canada, is the new Executive Director of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

Ground SAR

Greg Carter replaces Pat Henneberry as the representative to the National Ground SAR Council of Canada.

Alan McIntosh has stepped down as the Council’s representative for Nunavut.

Cpl. Terrence (Terry) Totten passed away in June. His 26-year career in the RCMP included serving as coordinator of ground search and rescue in Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Cpl. Totten received a Certificate of Achievement from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, among other honours.

Air SAR

Major Grant MacDonald replaces Major Pat McSorley as the J3 Ops 6 (SAR) at Canada Command. Maj. MacDonald is the subject matter expert who provides advice to senior commanders at Canada Command.

National SAR Secretariat

Louise Pilloud, a long-time staff member of the National SAR Secretariat who organized many of the SARSCENE Workshops, has retired from the federal government after 35 years of public service.