RCMP members were on the North Saskatchewan River at P.A. training Friday (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Public Safety

RCMP take to water for training

Aug 10, 2019 | 9:00 AM

Residents may have noticed some RCMP activity on the North Saskatchewan River Friday.

Prince Albert RCMP members along with some from the north put their boats in the river for some training exercises. Staff Sgt. Brian Kelly with the P.A. RCMP said working on the water can be a big part of the job.

“It’s important that we are able to be proficient in the river systems if we’re ever called upon to search for missing people, hunters, especially with hunting season coming up,” he said.

Along with helping to find missing persons Kelly said sometimes boats need to be called out to aid with recovery missions.

On Friday RCMP members got the chance to work on a variety of skills out on the river. This included navigating the water, learning how to stop quickly and they even worked on how to carry a boat over a sandbar.

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Kelly said it was good for them to get out right now as they were able to give five people specialized boat handling training. Before Friday the P.A. detachment only had two people trained up. Two northern members, one from Pine House and another from Sandy Bay also got certified.

According to Kelly, the number of times the boats are called into action can vary but RCMP make sure to get out often.

“If there are no calls for duty for the year, we’ll try to get [the boat] out a couple times a year, just to make sure everything’s running and people are keeping up with their training,” he said.

RCMP members observe a black bear sow and cub in the water near the southeast of south Cecil Ferry (Submitted Photo/Prince Albert RCMP)

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn