Sunday, 5 March 2017

BCSAR Memorial

 

This is my photo journey of my time in Victoria this past week.
You can also find me here https://spark.adobe.com/page/cPDC6cFx5ONTL/

The following excerpt was taken from the Nelson Star...

A monument recognizing the sacrifice of fallen search and rescue members has joined the Garden of Honour on the B.C. legislature grounds.
Search and rescue volunteers gathered from across B.C. and as far away as Saskatchewan Thursday for the unveiling of the monument, which bears the names of 17 search and rescue personnel who lost their lives during searches over the past 50 years.
The Garden of Honour, on the south side of the B.C. legislature, has monuments for police, firefighters and paramedics who have died in the line of duty.
"Trained volunteers are the first, and sometimes the only rescuers to arrive to help people in trouble," said Chris Kelly, president of the B.C. Search and Rescue Association. "This monument is a solemn reminder that despite extensive safety programs, their work can still be dangerous."

 

I was both honored and privileged to attend this memorial service on behalf of the Bing family. Uncle Bill was a very special person in my life and I will always have him in my heart. This was an emotional time for me and for all the families that were there. 

Seventeen names are on the monument. Hopefully no more will be added. 

Hunt is related to Reginald Richard Hunt and Alfred Benjamin Hunt, who were aboard a Provincial Emergency Program Air (PEP Air) flight that went down in 1970, killing all aboard.

Kelly said the monument was carved from 17,000 pounds of granite, symbolizing the 17 names inscribed on it. In addition to the Hunts, they are:

Lyle Saunders, PEP Air, Merritt, 1967

Gary Daniels, PEP Air, 1967

Norman Wilson, PEP Air, Alert Bay, 1970

John Craig, PEP Air, Cranbrook, 1983

Bob McGregor, North Shore Rescue, 1989

Marcel Andrie, Lions Bay Search and Rescue, 1994

Bill Bing, PEP Air, Nelson, 1996

Sheilah Sweatman, Nelson Search and Rescue, 2011

Angie Nemeth, Halfmoon Bay, 2012

Victor E. Hanuse, PEP Air, Alert Bay, 1970

Cynthia Griffith, PEP Air, Cranbrook, 1983

Eric Buss, Bulkley Valley Search and Rescue, 1991

Rick Dendys, PEP Air, Nelson, 1996

Rick Ayotte, PEP Air, Nelson, 1996

Beatrice Sorensen, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, Halfmoon Bay, 2012

....so I begin...

At the airport waiting for the shuttle...what do you do when you have your camera and you want to share the next 24 hrs?

 


 


 

After checking into my accommodations I set off exploring. This is the site of the memorial behind the Legislative buildings.


 

...and I continued on...

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

L
 


 


 

Ended up in the harbour

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

En Guard

 


 


 

Random shots


 


 


 


 


 


 

The Honourable Linda Reid, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly



There is quite the story about this young man, Spencer Hunt, who performed the First Nations Blessing ceremony. He has two relatives who are named on this monument. He himself was recently rescued by SAR after being lost for 3 days.  
http://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/victoria-hiker-missing-near-nanaimo-since-saturday-found-alive-1.3263220

 

Tents are really good until you want to take pictures!


 

....and then there are the tall people in front of you....

 


 





 


 

Then came the speeches...

The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of BC 


 

The Honourable Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness for BC


 

John Horgan, the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition


 

Pat Quealey, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue


 

Alton King, Director General PEP Air

 

Al read this poem written by Dan Port after Uncle Bills death. So beautiful and from the heart.



....and then the unveiling...

 


 


 

Member of the Nelson SAR



...and then there were two

 


 



 


 


 


 


 


 

 

....goodnight Victoria...

 


























































































































































































No comments:

Post a Comment