E-Comm dispatchers recognized for outstanding efforts during boating mishap
For immediate release— October 6, 2005
Vancouver--The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO Canada) has recognized the efforts of two E-Comm police dispatchers at its national conference in Vancouver (October 3-6 2005). Dispatchers Michelle Rain and Jennifer Philip were both nominated for APCO Canada's Communicator of the Year Award for their work during a sinking vessel incident on Pitt Lake on March 26, 2005.
Rain and Philip were the on-duty dispatch team for the Ridge Meadows RCMP when they answered a call from the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in Victoria, which had just received a "mayday" from a stranded vessel on Pitt Lake. The boat was taking on water and was at grave risk for sinking with two occupants on board. The dispatchers sent police units to Pitt Lake; however a boat was not available to transport emergency personnel to the stranded vessel. Air rescue was prohibited due to poor weather conditions.
The quick-thinking Rain and Philip reasoned that because it was the Easter long-weekend, there was a good chance that cabins normally vacant during that time of year might be occupied for the holiday. They accessed a local Blockwatch contact list from their files and began making phone calls to area residents. After two-dozen calls, they successfully made arrangements for a boat to respond. Shortly thereafter, the two occupants of the vessel were pulled from the water by a local resident, as their boat had sunk. The pair was safely transported to the resident's cabin who in turn advised 9-1-1 that they were safe.
"If it was not for the quick actions of Michelle and Jennifer, these two mariners may have perished before rescue personnel could reach them," said Deborah Cherry, Director of E-Comm Operations. "We are extremely proud of their efforts not just on this day, but every day," Cherry added.
Jon Harris, Councillor for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows and member of the E-Comm Board of Directors, observed that dispatchers are often the unsung heroes of emergency response.
"The art of dispatching is a critical component of emergency response that regularly requires imagination such as this," said Harris. We are fortunate that our police dispatch personnel provide high-quality service as this incident and nomination demonstrates. Their actions saved lives."
E-Comm is also proud to congratulate paramedic Derek McClure of the BC Ambulance Service, who received APCO Canada's Communicator of the Year Award for his work on creating enhanced protocols for computerized dispatch.
For more information contact:
Jody Robertson
E-Comm Corporate Communications
604-215-4956 (direct) 604-640-1342 (pager)