The Hamlet of Cambridge Bay set aside the evening of June 24 to show gratitude to the community鈥檚 search-and-rescue crew.
鈥淥ur community has an outstanding search-and-rescue operation, and they certainly were put to task this past month,鈥� senior administrative officer Marla Limousin said in regards to two major search-and-rescue missions that safely brought home three missing men.
鈥淲e wanted to show (the searchers) that the community appreciates their commitment to the people and recognizes the many hours away from their families. We鈥檙e also appreciative of the families that support them.鈥�
Rosabelle Klengenberg started out in a support role almost a decade ago. She鈥檇 make meals and snacks for the searchers. She later took training and now goes out on the land herself, along with her husband Bobby.
鈥淭he appreciation (night) was very honourable for the volunteers that take the time and effort to do search-and-rescue on their time. They risk their lives for people that are out on the land,鈥� said Klengenberg, who鈥檚 now a coordinator, helping to marshal the squad needed when residents go missing.
鈥淭hank you for recognizing us,鈥� she said of the municipality鈥檚 gesture.
To cultivate a new generation of volunteers, Klengenberg suggested that a 鈥渂uddy system鈥� be used to pair the most experienced searchers with newcomers.
There鈥檚 a corps of about eight regular searchers who begin an initial mission but if the search has to be expanded by the third day, there鈥檚 between 50 and 70 people in Cambridge Bay who can be relied on to lend a hand, said Beverly Maksagak, who鈥檚 also a search-and-rescue coordinator.
