Meet the Volunteers of Brighton Marine Rescue Saving Lives on Lake Ontario

The Brighton Marine Rescue (BMR) is a marine rescue unit located at the Bay Street Municipal Marina in Presqu’ile Bay. As a registered federal charity and provincial not-for-profit organization dedicated to Saving Lives on the Water, we provide Search and Rescue services free of charge to anyone who requires assistance. In operation for over 15 years and entirely staffed by local volunteers, we provide our services 24/7 throughout the boating season (mid April – mid October).

Working with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and allied agencies (including the Brighton Fire Department, 424 Squadron, OPP, Cobourg Coast Guard and Wellington Auxiliary Coast Guard), we provide on-water coverage to offshore areas of the Municipality of Brighton, Township of Cramahe and portions of both the Municipality of Quinte West and Prince Edward County. In total, we provide search and rescue services covering over 1500 square kilometres including Lake Ontario from Colborne to the Murray Canal to the US border, Weller’s Bay and Presqu’ile Bay.

Our Strategies

24/7 Standby Rescue: Maintaining a fully equipped marine first-response unit on standby for any emergency across our local waters.
Massive Patrol Grid: Covering an expansive area including Lake Ontario, Presqu’ile Bay, and Wellers Bay.
Joint Operations: Collaborating closely with the JRCC, Canadian and U.S. Coast Guards, CFB Trenton 424 Squadron, Police and Fire for large-scale search grids.
Preparedness: Training our crew to handle open-water rescues, whether retrieving a vessel in a gale or pulling a drifting swimmer safely from the frigid water.

Creating Change

Immediate Lifelines: General donations keep our rescue vessels fueled, operational, and stocked with life saving safety gear.
Volunteer Protection: Outfitting our selfless crew with protective equipment so they can safely endure harsh weather and cold water.
Rapid Response: Upgrading navigation and search technology to locate missing swimmers, paddleboarders, or vessels significantly faster.
Barrier-Free Help: Ensuring that our life-saving services remain 100% free of charge to absolutely anyone who requires assistance.

Long- term desired outcome

Saving Lives on the Water: Realizing a completely secure regional waterway where every boater, swimmer, and paddler is successfully reached and saved.
Operational Security: Securing stable funding so our volunteer crew can focus their energy entirely on rescues rather than financial survival.
Thriving Waterfront Communities: Boosting the local tourism and recreational economy by giving families the confidence that a safety net is always nearby.
Bringing Everyone Home: Ensuring both the people we rescue and our selfless volunteers return home safely to their families at the end of the day.

Learn more at: https://www.brightonmarinerescue.ca/home