Draft:TOWARF Marine Rescue




 * 1) Town of Oakville Water Air Rescue Force (TOWARF)

The Town of Oakville Water Air Rescue Force (TOWARF) is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization and a unit of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary. TOWARF is dedicated to providing marine search and rescue services on Western Lake Ontario. Their primary mission is to save lives and promote boating safety through their operations and community outreach programs.

TOWARF was established in 1954 by Fred Oliver, who was then the Police Chief of Trafalgar Township. The organization was founded in response to a tragic incident involving local Sea Scouts, which highlighted the need for a dedicated marine rescue service. Initially, the organization utilized both boats and private aircraft for search and rescue operations. Over the years, TOWARF has evolved, and while it no longer uses aircraft, it remains a critical part of the region's emergency response system [oai_citation:1,TOWARF rebranding as Oakville Marine Search and Rescue - Oakville News](https://www.oakvillenews.org/local-news/towarf-rebranding-as-oakville-marine-search-and-rescue-8541353) [oai_citation:2,Etobicoke windsurfer loses control, rescued from Oakville waters  - Oakville News](https://www.oakvillenews.org/local-news/windsurfer-loses-control-oakville-rescue-8477182) [oai_citation:3,TOWARF rebranding as Oakville Marine Search and Rescue  - Oakville News](https://www.oakvillenews.org/local-news/towarf-rebranding-as-oakville-marine-search-and-rescue-8541353).
 * 1) History

TOWARF operates within a patrol area covering approximately 100 square miles, from Burloak Drive (Oakville/Burlington border) to Winston Churchill Boulevard (Oakville/Mississauga border), extending about 10 nautical miles offshore. The organization is on duty for 32 hours each week and is on call 24/7 during the boating season, which runs from late April to October 31st [oai_citation:4,About | TOWARF Marine Rescue](https://towarf.com/about/) [oai_citation:5,TOWARF's very busy weekend - Oakville News](https://oakvillenews.org/news/oakville-community-news/towarf-very-busy-weekend-Aug-8-2022/) [oai_citation:6,Record breaking 22 people rescued this weekend in Oakville | insauga](https://www.insauga.com/record-breaking-22-people-rescued-this-weekend-in-oakville/).
 * 1) Operations

TOWARF consists of around 50 dedicated volunteers who undergo rigorous training. Members are required to have certifications such as the Pleasure Craft Operator Card, Restricted Radiotelephone Operator’s Certificate (Maritime), and Standard First Aid. Volunteers commit at least 20 hours per month during the boating season to activities including training, community events, search and rescue missions, and boat maintenance [oai_citation:7,Membership | TOWARF Marine Rescue](https://towarf.com/membership/) [oai_citation:8,Record breaking 22 people rescued this weekend in Oakville | insauga](https://www.insauga.com/record-breaking-22-people-rescued-this-weekend-in-oakville/) [oai_citation:9,Search and rescue - CHCH](https://www.chch.com/search-and-rescue/).
 * 1) Membership and Training

TOWARF is funded through an operating grant from the Town of Oakville and payments from the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary based on tasking hours. Additional funding comes from community donations and support from local organizations [oai_citation:10,TOWARF's very busy weekend - Oakville News](https://oakvillenews.org/news/oakville-community-news/towarf-very-busy-weekend-Aug-8-2022/) [oai_citation:11,Record breaking 22 people rescued this weekend in Oakville | insauga](https://www.insauga.com/record-breaking-22-people-rescued-this-weekend-in-oakville/) [oai_citation:12,Record breaking 22 people rescued this weekend in Oakville | insauga](https://www.insauga.com/record-breaking-22-people-rescued-this-weekend-in-oakville/).
 * 1) Funding

TOWARF is actively involved in promoting boating safety and provides services such as Pleasure Craft Courtesy Checks at no cost. They also participate in various community events to raise awareness about marine safety and the importance of their mission [oai_citation:13,Record breaking 22 people rescued this weekend in Oakville | insauga](https://www.insauga.com/record-breaking-22-people-rescued-this-weekend-in-oakville/) [oai_citation:14,Search and rescue - CHCH](https://www.chch.com/search-and-rescue/) [oai_citation:15,Record breaking 22 people rescued this weekend in Oakville | insauga](https://www.insauga.com/record-breaking-22-people-rescued-this-weekend-in-oakville/).
 * 1) Community Engagement

Throughout its history, TOWARF has been involved in numerous search and rescue missions, often collaborating with other agencies. The organization is known for its high standards of training and professionalism, which has earned it a respected place within the community and the broader maritime safety network. For instance, TOWARF volunteers recently rescued a windsurfer blown off course from Etobicoke to Oakville due to high winds, ensuring the individual's safety without injury [oai_citation:16,Ground News - Etobicoke windsurfer loses control, rescued from Oakville waters](https://ground.news/article/etobicoke-windsurfer-loses-control-rescued-from-oakville-waters) [oai_citation:17,TOWARF's very busy weekend - Oakville News](https://oakvillenews.org/news/oakville-community-news/towarf-very-busy-weekend-Aug-8-2022/).
 * 1) Notable Achievements

1. Oakville News. "TOWARF rebranding as Oakville Marine Search and Rescue." [Link](https://www.oakvillenews.org) 2. Oakville News. "TOWARF gears up for new year after a demanding 2020." [Link](https://www.oakvillenews.org) 3. Oakville News. "TOWARF’s very busy weekend." [Link](https://www.oakvillenews.org) 4. Oakville News. "TOWARF rescues anything." [Link](https://www.oakvillenews.org) 5. Oakville News. "Etobicoke windsurfer loses control, rescued from Oakville waters." [Link](https://www.oakvillenews.org) 6. Oakville News. "Oakville News joins Village Media’s network of local news sites." [Link](https://www.oakvillenews.org) 7. insauga.com. "Record breaking 22 people rescued this weekend in Oakville." [Link](https://www.insauga.com) 8. CHCH. "Search and rescue." [Link](https://www.chch.com) 9. Legacy.com. "Fred Oliver Obituary." [Link](https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thestar/name/fred-oliver-obituary?id=44870570)
 * 1) References