September 3, 2026 – Victoria, BC – National Defence / Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard’s Inshore Rescue Boat stations in British Columbia are winding down their seasonal maritime search and rescue service, and the following stations will close on September 8:

• Cortes Bay, Cortes Island
• Sointula, Malcolm Island
• Nootka Sound
• Kelsey Bay
  

The Inshore Rescue Boat program employs and trains post-secondary students across Canada to provide additional maritime search and rescue services during the busy summer season.

The Canadian Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue stations along coastal British Columbia will remain in service year-round. Highly trained Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers and their vessels also remain available to help boaters in distress.

Any marine emergency can be reported to the Canadian Coast Guard at all times by calling British Columbia’s regional emergency line at 250-413-8933 or 1‑800‑463‑4393, or through channel 16 on VHF radios.