Nick Epp-Evans, station leader for Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) Unit 29 Ladysmith, expects the unit’s new rescue vessel to be training in our local waters in mid-December. The new vessel, seen here under construction, will replace a vessel that has been in service since 1999, and it will provide greater crew safety, better performance and more capability for search and rescue work. “Unit 29 wishes to thank everybody who has donated time, money or both,” says Epp-Evans. According to Epp-Evans, a further $25,000 is needed to fully equip the vessel and to provide upgrades to the unit’s boat shed and boat lift. Tax-deductible donations can be made online at www.rcmsar29.com or by calling 250-668-2993. Ladysmith RCM-SAR Station 29 is sponsored by the Ladysmith and District Marine Rescue Society and provides marine search and rescue services for the northern section of the Gulf Island region including the islands and waters between Dodds Narrows to the north and Sansum Narrows to the south. Ladysmith is one of the busiest units in the Pacific region, responding to more than 3,000 calls since its inception.