The History of Barachois Search and Rescue

Barachois Search And Rescue was established in 1982 under the direction of the Barachois Detachment of the RCMP. A need was identified to establish a trained group of individuals who could respond to the search for lost or missing individuals. The original Team was comprised of twelve members of the Stephenville Crossing and St. Georges Volunteer Fire Departments. Training started in the fall of 1982 and the Team was certified in the spring of 1983. This Team operated under the direction of Coordinator Urban White of Stephenville Crossing.

As with many new organizations this team had its growing pains. Becoming established was no easy task as Ground SAR was a complete new entity to the Province of Nfld and Labrador. While these teams were established and tasked by the RCMP, the Department of Justice under the Office of Emergency Measures provided workers compensation coverage for all members. Because there was no funding of any kind to help equip teams, it was up to the individual members to raise funds for all their equipment. Actual expenses on a search were covered by the RCMP.

The next largest group of new members were trained in 1987-88 and received their certificates in February 1988. At this time the bulk of the members were from Stephenville Crossing.

During the next few years the team continued on with its regular meetings and training, using Assumption High in Stephenville Crossing as its meeting place. It was obvious that if this team was going to succeed and grow it needed to have a base of operations or a building. In 1989 Urban White stepped down as coordinator and Barry Nash assumed his duties. The next group of recruits trained included the first members from Flat Bay. During that year the team applied for a grant for radio equipment under the Joint Emergency Preparedness Plan. This project was sponsored by the Town Of Stephenville Crossing under a 60/40 cost share agreement with the Federal Government. Receiving a mobile base station and seven portable radios, the team was now better equipped to respond to emergency calls. Later that year, the team approached the Stephenville Crossing Parks And Recreation Committee for permission to use its building located near the Catholic Church in Stephenville Crossing.

The team started raising money and held its first annual snowmobile trip to Buchans in the February 1990.This annual event continued for a period of six years and many members as well as non members collected sponsors, raising money for team operations. In 1990 the team purchased its first Command Vehicle which was fully equipped and used for team operations and training. In 1992 the Team received its first Zodiac through a grant from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, sponsored by the RCMP.

Now with a Command Vehicle and a Zodiac Rescue Boat, plus its own radio equipment, the Team realized the need for a larger building. The only suitable building available in Stephenville Crossing belonged to the Town Of Stephenville Crossing. After some negotiations with Town Council an agreement was reached to lease the former New Tel switching station for a period of twenty five years for the sum of one dollar The building which is located on West Street, Stephenville Crossing is in an ideal location. Situated on the old rail bed and close to the Bay area and in the center of Town, it has proven to be exactly what the Team needed. Through an initial Section 25 Grant from Canadian Employment and Immigration Commission, the building was cleaned up, rewired, painted and a garage door installed in order to accommodate the Teams vehicles. In subsequent years another project was received from CEIC to continue the work and eventually a twenty foot extension was added. The building was officially opened in October 1994. At this time the Team was presented with its new crest, designed by Quinton Connolly, of Stephenville Crossing which depicted three areas of SAR. Land, water and rescue work.

Throughout the years, the team’s focus has changed from a reactionary organization to one of prevention. The Team members work with schools, youth groups, girl guides and boy scouts to spread the message of ice safety, snowmobile safety and boating safety. This is accomplished through presentations and demonstrations to groups of all ages. In 2000 a partnership was established with the Canadian Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety through the Nfld and Labrador Search and Rescue Association. This saw all teams trained to deliver the boating safety message, as well as, complete courteous vessel inspections on recreational boats throughout Nfld and Labrador. Through team efforts, the number of drownings have been reduced and the number of people wearing their personal flotation devices has increased substantially. In an effort to accommodate the Canadian Coast Guard new regulations for The Pleasure Craft Operators Card, NLSARA entered into an agreement with Canadian Power And Sail Squadron. This saw certified instructors on every team in Nfld, qualified to teach the general public the required course needed to obtain their Operators Card.

After many years of snowmobilers going through the ice around the Stephenville Crossing Bay Area, and with no real mechanism to rescue them, Barachois Search and Rescue felt it was time to act. In the fall of 2001, after some extensive research, it was decided to purchase a used hovercraft from Quebec. Money to purchase the Hovercraft was raised by the team and a number of the members were trained to operate it. This machine bridges the gap between snowmobiles and boats. It can be operated on ice, water and land and doesn’t have to be trail ered from the building to the Bay area. This craft has proven its worth in a successful rescue of three men, whose snowmobiles fell through the ice on Feb. 7/2004. (Link to Rescue Story)

With the establishment of groomed snowmobile trails in the Bay St. George area and the increase number of people using snowmobiles, the Barachois Search And Rescue Team found itself responding to more snowmobile accidents. Using a small toboggan, only suited for transporting supplies, the Team realized it needed a Rescue Toboggan which could accommodate both the patient and the medical attendant. In January 2003, the Team took delivery of a new rescue toboggan as a result of receiving a grant from Persona Communications for fifty percent of the cost. This toboggan has proven to be an excellent piece of equipment and is utilized on a regular basis.

With an increase in the number of recreational boaters on the water, the potential for water rescues also increases. With this in mind, the Barachois Search And Rescue Team, in conjunction with the Bay St. George RCMP Detachment, submitted a grant application to the Mounted Police Foundation. In July 2004, a $5000.00 grant was awarded to the Team for a Rapid Water Rescue Initiative. Two Jolt 116 Kayaks and one P270S Zebec Inflatable Boat, as well as, all the required rescue equipment was purchased. Once the equipment was purchased, training sessions were organized with Explore Nfld in Steady Brook. To date participants have received the Two Star British Canoe Union Certification. Over 200 hours of use has been logged on the kayaks since their initial purchase.

Since the Teams establishment back in 1982, the whole demographics of the Team has changed considerably. Going from a response role for lost and missing persons, to a pro active and preventative role has lead to many changes. Although our primary role hasn’t changed, it has expanded considerably. We have now conduct evidence searches for the RCMP on some major crime scenes. We provide traffic control and logistics to major accident scenes for the volunteer fire departments. We respond to calls from Municipalities for flooding, major fires or other disasters in Town. We provide training on boating safety, ice safety, Hug a Tree Program and conduct courteous vessel inspections for recreational boaters. We have an agreement to provide training under the Canadian Power And Sail Squadron. in order for participants to obtain their Pleasure Craft Operators Card. In an effort to remain active and focused, our team is ready for any challenge and our future is limited only by our imagination.