VIDEO: Sweatman remembered as a powerful woman
Posted on 23. Jul, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in News |
Teddi and Wynn Sweatman, Sheilah's parents, speak on Saturday, July 23. Photo by Chris Shepherd.
Family and fellow search and rescue volunteers paid their respect to Sheilah Sweatman today in an emotional memorial to the woman who died in an East Kootenay river last month.
Affectionally called Sheesh by her family, Sweatman was remembered as a powerful woman committed to helping her community.
“Sheilah’s dedication to search and rescue sprung from a principle that you had to give back. That you had to help other people,” said Wynn Sweatman, Sheilah’s father. “Sheesh felt privileged to enjoy the mountains of British Columbia. She was keenly aware that there were risks and knew people could get lost, and hurt or worse.”
(See more from Sweatman’s family in the video below.)
Sheilah was part of a call out to a submerged vehicle in the Goat River, south of Creston, when she fell out of the boat and did not surface. Her body was recovered the next day.
Search and rescue volunteers from across British Columbia paraded along Nelson, B.C.’s waterfront to a field. Under a brilliant sky, Don Bindon, president of the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association, told the audience that there are over 2,500 search and rescue volunteers for whom having their search and rescue (SAR) pager go off was a likely as responding to a call from family or work.
“But it is rewarding,” Bindon said. “The inconvenience and interruption is accepted because of the satisfaction of being asked outweighs the contribution.
“There are risks. We are in the risk business. But there is great satisfaction as well. You join a great family of people who desire to help others.”
There is always a need for people like Sheilah to help others, he said.
“And if we ever doubted our calling, you just have to understand these numbers. In the few short weeks since Sheilah’s accident, the unpaid professional SAR communities of B.C. that Sheilah was a part of have answered another 100 calls. Even as members of Sheilah’s SAR fraternity gather here today to pay tribute to her ultimate sacrifice, their colleagues are answering the bell throughout this province.
We have to. It is too important for us not to be there and Sheilah would never forgive us.”
Sweatman joined Nelson Seach and Rescue two and half years ago. Darcy Fear, vice president of Nelson Search and Rescue, said he’d never met anyone as driven as Sweatman.
“In many ways she was an unstoppable force which at times ran into other unmovable objects, which resulted in fireworks. She always was pushing us to grow as an organization.”
Sweatman had qualified for an impressive variety of rescue teams and certifications with Nelson Search and Rescue including: the rope team; the boat team; swift water rescue; first aid responder; avalanche team responder and team leader.
Beyond Nelson SAR, Sweatman had joined the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association and was training her puppy, Freya, to be a rescue dog.
Nelson SAR is in the process of moving into new headquarters and they will name their new building after Sheilah.
As part of Saturday’s memorial, SAR teams from across B.C. brought a rock that will form a cairn at the team’s new hall.
“That cairn will be a symbol of support, of comfort, and of guidance. It will be a monument of courage and kindness,” said Callie Chatten, a member of Nelson SAR. “Of service and of sacrifice. With this, Sheilah unites us and guides our way.”
Deep condolence to Sheilah’s family and SAR colleagues for this tragedy. Sacrifice for the sake of others will always be the highest calling.
SPELL CHECK!! Remeberd??????
I mean rememberd???
Thanks for the catch, Hugh. As you see, mistakes happen.