Meet the Crew

Meet CCGA Unit 20's volunteers who make it happen...

Elizabeth Wilkes - Station Leader, Full Crew

Elizabeth has been with the Unit for almost 5 years.  A former skating instructor, Elizabeth enjoys working in her yard, visits with her children, reading, travel, hikes with her Golden Retriever "Tug" and trips on her own boat "Iron Lady II" and of course, skating in Victoria and in Calgary on the Olympic Oval every chance she gets.  "We cannot direct the winds, but we can adjust our sails."

Dave Hargreaves - Coxswain

Bio to follow...

Alex Vasiljevic - Coxswain

Bio to follow...

Michael Symons - Full Crew Member

Michael has twenty-five years' experience in emergency services, as a volunteer firefighter and as an Emergency Medical Technician, prior to joining the unit.  He has been active with CCGA Unit 20 - Salish Sea since 2009 and is currently the unit's Medical Officer.  Prior to becoming a permanent resident of the Penders Michael had careers in high-tech industry and, more recently, was a practicing lawyer in California.  He lives on North Pender with his wife, son & daughter-in-law, their five terriers, two Abyssinian cats, assorted birds, and two large pet pigs.  His current "day job" is as proprietor of Pender Island Cellars, the islands' first, and only, licensed U-Vin winemaking shop.

Mike Aston - Full Crew Member.

Mike has been sailing regularly for over 10 years and has Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications from the UK.  He has a background in Finance and Industrial Design & Project Management.  A member of Unit 20 since 2007, Mike supports the worthwhile cause of helping those in difficulty on the water.  When not on Coastguard pager duty, there's a good chance he'll be messing about in (or working on) a sailboat somewhere in the Gulf Islands. (He's also webmaster for this www.ccga20.ca website)

John Pollard - Crew

Joined Unit 20 in Sept 2009....currently working towards Full Crew status after completing the mandatory First Aid/Radio courses.  As a retired educator / counsellor I was interested in, and completed, the Critical Stress Management course recently run by Toby Snelgrove.  I moved to Pender in 2008, with my wife Eve, leaving South Surrey for the "good life", purchasing Corbett House Country Inn B & B as a new adventure... we've had fun!  My learning curve has been steep and challenging. The next step is to master the radar /chart plotter /gps electronics. My knowledgeable experienced colleagues have been a huge help which has been much appreciated.  Being part of a volunteer organization which provides a valuable service to those on/in the water provides me with the opportunity to contribute to the fantastic Pender Island community....stay dry!

David Rees-Thomas - Coxswain, Owner/Op, SAR Operations Manager, Commercial Mariner, PCS Checker

Bio to follow...

Chris Poellein - Full Crew Member

Chris grew up in Bavaria/ Germany with skies almost permanently attached to her feet. Combining her love for dogs and skiing prompted her to join the SAR avalanche dog team.  Chris represented Germany for six years by skiing at the World Cup Circuit. During the yearly stops in Whistler she fell in love with ”the Best Place on Earth” and decided to make B.C. her home.  In 1999, she moved to Pender Island and founded SunRaven, Centre of Wellbeing beyond Time and Matter. You might meet Chris and her dog Tara on the trails and beaches of Pender.  Chris joined  Unit 20 in 2007. She feels that the regular classroom and on-water training sessions are the best way to learn and practice all the “ropes” of safe and responsible boat handling.  And helping boaters in distress can be a very rewarding task.

Brian Morton - Crew Member

Brian Morton is a “prairie boy” who professionally raced sports cars (an MGA then a Mini Cooper “S”) in the mid 1960’s – briefly returning to racing for 2 more years in a Formula Ford (Crossle 45F) in the Mid 1990’s.  Brian was a registered psychologist for 30 years, first in Alberta, then British Columbia when he and his wife moved to Coquitlam in 1992.  After working at Douglas College, then Simon Fraser University, Brian and his wife retired to Pender Island in 2008.  He joined Unit 20 as crew in December 2008 and cites being part of this dedicated family as a primary motivator.

More unit members will be added here as soon as photos and bios are available.  Please come back often!

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