Metchosin Search and Rescue (SAR) has installed a new bench to honour those who passed away during active membership over the years.
The bench, which sits on the Sea Bluff Trail in Metchosin, offers hikers a chance to take a break and enjoy the scenic views overlooking Parry Bay. The two plaques that adorn the cedar bench highlight two members of the team, Gordon Reimer and Peter Beltgens, who passed away during active membership.
B次元官网网址淲e realized that weB次元官网网址檝e had a lot of new members since 2002 and a lot of members with no real memory of Gord at all. Then we looked and realized we had another active member die much more recently,B次元官网网址� said Andrew Spray, search manager with Metchosin SAR, who spearheaded the project.
B次元官网网址淭hen we said maybe we should make this a memorial bench to any person whose been a very active member in the history and passed away.B次元官网网址�
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Spray met Reimer several years ago through the local church, and together with a number of others founded the search and rescue team in 1988. The two became close friends over time, as they shared many similarities B次元官网网址� Reimer had three daughters, while Spray had four; both loved the outdoors and had the same goal of helping people. Reimer was also the scout master of the Metchosin Scouts.
Reimer remained active with the team until his death in 2002, following complications with a surgery. He was 50 years old.
B次元官网网址淗e was a terrific friend, very active in the local church,B次元官网网址� Spray said. B次元官网网址淗e was absolutely reliable. You could absolutely count on Gord for anything.B次元官网网址�
After ReimerB次元官网网址檚 death, Spray and SAR members decided to honour him with a bench on the Sea Bluff Trail. Over the last decade, the elements took a toll on the wooden bench. Two years ago, residents pointed out that it had started to fall apart and thatB次元官网网址檚 when Spray decided to take the lead on the project. And following a work party on Aug. 12, the bench was installed.
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But Reimer is not the only Metchosin SAR member to pass away during active membership.
Beltgens, whose name is also on the bench, became a member of Metchosin SAR after he broke his leg while on a hike and needed assistance from the team one day.
B次元官网网址淗e said the feeling he got when he saw help walking towards him instantly gave him the drive to do the same for someone else one day,B次元官网网址� said Ryan McGuire, a fellow Metchosin SAR member.
B次元官网网址淥ver and over again, Peter tried to live up to that commitment. In fact, in one search alone Peter spent three full days in a row climbing up cliff sides. He was such a dedicated guy and it didnB次元官网网址檛 matter what he was doing. He would always give it his all.B次元官网网址�
Beltgens had a heart attack while he was mountain biking and died in 2014. He was 60 years old.
B次元官网网址淗e was always up for a day in the woods, on bikes or boots. His other passion, though IB次元官网网址檓 sure he had many, was for automobiles, particularly Volkswagens. He would spend a lot of his evenings in the shop. When he wasnB次元官网网址檛 in the shop he was spending time with family,B次元官网网址� added Chris Supeene, a SAR member. B次元官网网址淧eter was a huge family man.B次元官网网址�
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