Coastal First Nations – Saving Lives at Sea

Conrad Cowan, Executive Director – Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary

Pride & Protection, Canada’s first Indigenous-led coast guard auxiliary patrols BC’ rugged coast.  Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary (CN-CGA) is Canada's first Indigenous led Coast Guard Auxiliary with a purpose to protect both mariners and citizens through the forging of strong and lasting partnerships between maritime First Nations and the Canadian Coast Guard. The CN-CGA was incorporated in mid 2018 under the sponsorship of the Federal Government, for the purpose of providing organized voluntary maritime SAR in coastal areas of BC.

Mission: To ensure effective marine search and rescue services for people in distress throughout BC’s coastal region.

Motto: We are Coastal First Nations, saving lives at sea.

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Conrad James Shaw Cowan has over 32 years of domestic & international experience in humanitarian and disaster response operations, including large-scale strategic management in natural disaster environments. With deployments in BC wildfire response, the Quebec Ice storm; famine relief in Somalia and United Nations & Peacekeeping in post-conflict zones including Israel, Golan Heights, Syria & Croatia.

Conrad also held the Search & Rescue leadership position supporting 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Canada’s largest Airforce SAR department responsible for operations and immediate response personnel throughout the Canadian Maritimes, the Arctic and Atlantic seaboard, a region roughly the size Europe.

In his present role as Executive Director, he oversees the CN-CGA to provide effective marine search and rescue services for people in distress throughout BC’s coastline region.