PARA Marine Search & Rescue

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PARA Marine Search & Rescue

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PARA Marine Search & Rescue is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to the preservatio The proud and respected marine call-sign P.A.R.U.

What We Do

During the regular boating season from May to October, PARA volunteers provide over 1,100 hours of service to the boating community. PARA has assisted over 3,000 people in emergency situations, of which 260 of these were life threatening. PARA volunteers are on call 24 hours a day to respond to any emergency situation. Search and Rescue (SAR) activities include night searches in response to emergency flares, overdue vessels, and calls for assistance from vessels in distress, as well as suspected drowning. Regular boating activities monitored by PARA include summer sailing races and events, sail boarding activities, and all recreational craft activities. These regular patrols are carried out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings as well as all day Saturdays and Sundays, and all public holidays. Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) units like PARA can often respond to emergency situations and Search and Rescue incidents faster than the regular Coast Guard due to our close proximity to the main areas of boating activity. PARA has many volunteers who live in the surrounding areas of Frenchman’s Bay and the Frenchman’s Bay Yacht Club where the rescue boat is moored. PARA is frequenting called upon for Search and Rescue missions due to the enhanced capabilities of our vessel. has remained through generations of vessels with a long history of community service, dedication to duty and a commitment to safety on the waters of Lake Ontario.

09/30/2026

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

We take this day to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, the Survivors who carry that history, and the families and communities still living with its effects.

PARA Marine Search & Rescue serves the communities of Pickering, Ajax, and Whitby on land within the Treaty and traditional territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation and the Williams Treaties signatories of the Mississauga and Chippewa Nations. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, train, and serve on these lands and waters.

If you are looking for a place to begin today, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action are publicly available and worth your time.

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis line is available 24 hours a day at 1-866-925-4419

Listening and learning is work that belongs to all of us; today and every day. 🧡

09/14/2026

A big thank you to Toronto Paramedic Services and Toronto Search and Rescue-Marine for inviting our Sunday crew to join their training exercise at Outer Harbour Marina! It was an incredibly informative day and a fantastic opportunity to sharpen our skills. We gained valuable insight into how our land-based partners operate behind the scenes. Great day overall for the team!

09/10/2026

We had a wonderful day out on the links for the Somcan Foundation annual charity golf tournament! ⛳️ Last year, we were honored to be the tournament’s charity of choice. This year, we were thrilled to sponsor a hole and support St. Paul’s on-the-Hill Community Food Bank as the charity of choice. Thank you to the organizers and everyone who stopped by to chat—our community is truly one of a kind!

09/02/2026

Last week, we teamed up with Pickering Fire, the DRPS Marine Unit, and COMRA Marine Search and Rescue for a joint SAREx (search-and-rescue exercise) at Millennium Square along the Pickering waterfront.

The exercise strengthened interagency communication and coordination, helping ensure we are prepared to work together effectively during real emergencies. Thank you to our partners for a successful training session—we look forward to the next one.

Special thanks to Frenchman’s Bay Yacht Club for lending us a few members and providing the club boat to help stage the props used for the exercise.

City of Pickering Durham Regional Police Service DRPS Traffic and Field Support COMRA - Marine Search & Rescue Frenchman's Bay Yacht Club

08/30/2026

THANK YOU! ⚓💙

What an incredible day on the waterfront!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the PARA Marine Search & Rescue Waterfront Festival and helped us celebrate 60 years of service to our community.
Whether you toured the boat, enjoyed the music, made a donation or simply came down to say hello, we’re incredibly grateful for your support.

As a 100% volunteer-driven organization, community support helps us continue funding the operational equipment we need today while preparing for the future, including the long-term replacement of our search and rescue vessel.

And of course, a huge thank you to our volunteers, partners, vendors, sponsors and everyone who helped make the day possible. MADD Durham Region Chapter KX96 Recreation Pickering City of Pickering and everyone else who helped make this event a success. THANK YOU.

60 years of service. One incredible community. Thank you for being part of it.

08/29/2026

TODAY’S THE DAY! ✨

We’re ready, we’re excited, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone down to the waterfront for the PARA Marine Search & Rescue Waterfront Festival!

Come spend the day with us at Millennium Square as we celebrate 60 years of PARA Marine Search & Rescue.
You’ll also have the opportunity to support our fundraising efforts, helping fund the operational equipment we need today and prepare for the future replacement of our search and rescue vessel.

📍 Millennium Square, Pickering
⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM TODAY
🎟️ FREE admission

We can’t wait to see you!! ⚓

08/28/2026

TOMORROW! ⚓🌊

The PARA Marine Search & Rescue Waterfront Festival kicks off tomorrow at 10 AM at Millennium Square in Pickering!
Join us for a FREE day on the waterfront with:

🚤 Free rescue boat tours
🎵 Music
🌊 Dunk tank
😄 Games + more

Come meet the volunteers behind PARA Marine Search & Rescue, help us celebrate 60 years of service to our community, and learn how you can support our fundraising efforts to help keep PARA Marine Search & Rescue ready for the future.

📅 Tomorrow, August 29
⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM
📍 Millennium Square, Pickering
🎟️ FREE admission

Bring your family, bring your friends and come spend the day with us. We’ll see you on the waterfront!

08/25/2026

60 years of service deserves a celebration. 🎉⚓

Join us Saturday, August 29 at Millennium Square for the PARA Marine Search & Rescue Waterfront Festival!

We’re bringing the community together for a day on Pickering’s waterfront with free boat tours, music and more.

📅 Saturday, August 29
⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM
📍 Millennium Square, Pickering
🎟️ FREE admission

Come meet the volunteers behind PARA Marine Search & Rescue, learn more about the work they do and help us celebrate 60 years of service to our community.

08/22/2026

ONE WEEK TO GO! 🌊⚓

Next Saturday, we’re taking over Millennium Square for the PARA Marine Search & Rescue Waterfront Festival.

FREE admission.
FREE boat tours.
Music.
Dunk tank.
And plenty more.

📅 Saturday, August 29
⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM
📍 Millennium Square, Pickering

Come help us celebrate 60 years of PARA Marine Search & Rescue while supporting the team to keep them ready for the future!

Address

Pickering, ON

Website

http://www.paramarinesar.ca/

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