Although the Canadian Coast Guard celebrated its 50th anniversary on Thursday, the service has been around much longer.

B次元官网网址淪ervices on the water were provided by the federal government in one way or another, probably since the 1800s,B次元官网网址� said Vija Poruks, assistant commissioner for the Canadian Coast GuardB次元官网网址檚 Pacific Region. B次元官网网址淓ven though the formal organization didnB次元官网网址檛 officially occur until 1962, weB次元官网网址檝e really been around much longer than that.B次元官网网址�

She and other Coast Guard brass from the coast were on hand at two small ceremonies to mark the occasion at the Department of Fisheries and OceansB次元官网网址� Institute of Ocean Sciences in North Saanich and at the Huron Street base. About 45 Coast Guard employees ate birthday cake at the North Saanich announcement and listened to speeches.

In part, the future looks bright for the Coast GuardB次元官网网址檚 Pacific division. ItB次元官网网址檚 getting four new vessels B次元官网网址� a new offshore oceanographic fisheries vessel, based at VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Huron Street station, two new mid-shore patrol vessels and a new hover craft to replace the 15-plus-year-old model stationed at Sea Island, off the mainland.

Meanwhile, the organization is subject to cost cutting, like many other branches of the federal government.

Poruks said the Coast Guard will have to reconsider its use of technology, try to cut the red tape required to get some things done and consider business partnerships to minimize its budget.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not going to be easy, but IB次元官网网址檓 confident we can live up to these challenges,B次元官网网址� Poruks told the group.

Visibility and interaction with the community is also a major goal for the coming year.

Did you know?

The Coast Guard provides

B次元官网网址� maritime security

B次元官网网址� icebreaking for shipping

B次元官网网址� marine communications radio

B次元官网网址� environmental response for oil spills, etc.

B次元官网网址� search and rescue service