A local Squamish Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue volunteer received the provincewide Volunteer of the Year award for his efforts throughout the year.
Calum Davidson received the award on Sept. 7 from Bill Riggs, the CEO of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, near the Squamish Yacht Club. Numerous Squamish RCM SAR teammates joined Davidson to celebrate the award.
The decision to award Davidson was based on numerous exemplary qualities, said Riggs, who came from Victoria to hand the award to Davidson.
“It was based really on Calum’s leadership, his willingness to go the extra mile here at this station. The fact that he's taken on a lot of tasks and initiatives to better not just the boat, but the training here and to assist his fellow team members in trying to achieve their goals,” he said.
“Also the fact that Calum has done an extraordinary amount of work of his own to advance his own training,” Riggs continued. “That’s what we want our volunteers to aspire to.”
Davidson called the award both “surprising” and “humbling.”
“It’s surprising given how large the RCM SAR organization is and the work done in all the other stations as well. So, it’s pretty humbling to be singled out like that,” said Davidson.
Riggs said the award had many candidates across the 31 RCM SAR stations in B.C., but ultimately Calum’s leadership and the letter of recommendation written for him by RCM-SAR Station 04 Squamish swung the vote in his favour.
Davidson said he was fortunate for the examples shown by leadership and other members.
“I had the opportunity to learn a ton from great people at the station here, all the more experienced members,” he said. “And so the team here is really what makes it fun and makes it rewarding.”
Squamish RCM SAR responds to marine emergencies up and down Howe Sound. In the past year, they have helped resolve numerous marine incidents and lately volunteers have been completing their annual fitness test.
For more information about RCM SAR, visit rcmsar.com or visit the local RCM SAR Facebook page.
