Cape Breton search and rescue seek new building with election

Cape Breton Ground Search and Rescue volunteers arehoping a long search for their own building will come to an end next year.

All of their vehicles currentlyare housed outdoorsat a site near Glace Bay, N.S.

"We've never had a building," search manager PaulVienneau said."All of our equipment was housed in different people's houses."

Having their own building would save valuable time, he said, especially when called out for a search in wintertime.

"To have the vehicles parked indoors and get a call in the middle of February without having to chip the ice offand clear the snow out and get them all warmed up ...just jump in the truck and open thedoor and leave," he said. "Wow ...that's all Ican say."

Election promises

Four years ago, Cecil Clarkemade an election promise to help the group withcash flow and a building and was elected as mayor, Vienneausaid.

Clarke had proposed buildinga new police station in Glace Bay, and giving the search and rescue team part of that space, he said.

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'Incredibly selfless volunteers'

The issue has come up again in this fall's mayoralty campaign in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

"After this election when we can look forward to a new police station in the next capital budget for Glace Bay," Clarke said atlast week's mayoralty debate. That building "is a placefor theGround Search and Rescue to possibly have a long-term home."

Opposing candidate Rankin MacSween criticized Clarke.

"Over and over again you see these volunteers ...these incredibly selfless volunteers who are holding a community together and trying to do magnificent things," MacSween said. "They need to be supported."

'I leave that to the people'

Cape Breton Regional Council has approved funding for a design andbuild study on a new Glace Bay police station.

Clarke also has pushed on the campaign trail that he is promising to supportground search and rescue this time.

"Ileave that to the people to make that decision on the 15th," he said,referring to the municipal election date.

MacSween, reached at his office, said he doesn't know the details of Clarke's idea, but said "of course, we need to service this organization as a municipality,of course they need a home,and Iwould commit that we will work with them to resolve this."

Clarke said if council approves the new police station,construction could start in the spring of 2017. He expects thebuilding could befinished by thefall.