West Coast Marine Services host the 2025 Gulf Islands Fire Rescue cadet camp participants

16 local Fire Rescue Cadet Camp participants got a first hand look at life on the seas as they headed aboard the RCMP's police vessel Lindsay this week.

The Gulf Islands Fire Rescue Cadet Camp gives students between the ages of 15 to 18 the opportunity to gain first hand experiences in multiple first responder roles, preparing them for a possible career. This year, police officers from the RCMP’s West Coast Marine Services (WCMS) provided their support for this important initiative.

On the West Coast of B.C, the RCMP has three full time patrol vessels which are crewed by the WCMS. The patrol areas for these vessels strech from Washington State to the South tip of Alaska, which is nearly 26,000 km of coastline. The RCMP's police vessel "Lindsay" was built in 1992 and is named after former RCMP Commissioner Malcom Lindsay. Each vessel acts as a floating detachment and is equipped with everything needed to ensure law and order is sustained even in the most remote areas of the coast.

The cadet's got an up-close look inside the Lindsay and engaged with members of the WCMS, learning about the job and what it takes to become one of these highly trained team members. After the meet and greet the cadets were treated to a maritime patrol of Navy Channel, between Pender and Mayne Island.

Having worked in remote areas of the coast myself, seeing the patrol vessel is always a welcome sight, said Cst. Marcel Taekema, Outer Gulf Islands RCMP acting detachment commander. "This is a great opportunity for these cadets to see just how many different opportunities are available to them in the policing world".

Members of the Outer Gulf Islands Detachment along with WCMS wish the cadets the best of luck in their training!