Prairie stop for Canadian Coast Guard helicopter

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Ryan Dahlman

You might not expect to find a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter in a landlocked town like Shaunavon.

But that’s exactly what you would have found last week (Sept. 25) when one touched down at the local airport in the heart of the prairies. 

The helicopter was flying from Victoria, B.C. to Ottawa, Ont. to undergo some extensive maintenance, a procedure that is conducted roughly every five years. 

The helicopter was being piloted by Dave Ferguson a 16-year veteran of the Coast Guard who has over four decades of flying experience.

The journey started Wednesday (Sept. 24) evening (trying to avoid morning coastal fog) before touching down in Penticton for the night. With a capacity to hold about two hours of fuel, the aircraft made stops the following day at Cranbrook and Lethbridge, before stopping in Shaunavon Thursday evening for another overnight stay.

“I’ve crossed the country many times, but never this far south,” said Ferguson. “We thought we’d just try something different this time.” 

Scheduled stops the next day included Estevan, Winnipeg, Dryden and Thunder Bay for another overnight stay. 

Ferguson was hoping to reach Ottawa by the end of the day Saturday, although it would depend on a variety of factors including weather. 

“It’s a good three-day trip,” offered Ferguson. “You can do it in two-days, but you would have to be up and out by sunrise both days and all the conditions would have to work out right.”

Ferguson said this particular aircraft is normally based in Victoria. It is one of three Bell 429 units, along with a Bell 412, that is part of the Victoria-based fleet.

Ferguson says that they mostly operate on the coast, completing tasks such as servicing lighthouses and communication towers on mountain tops.

“Sometimes we sling off ships, depending on where cargo is required at light stations and mountain tops,” said Ferguson. 

“We also go to the Arctic – we have a ship that has a flight deck on it and it’s used for navigation and science,” he added.

The crew, which included an engineer (Adam Deas), stayed overnight in Shaunavon. 

“I’ve probably been across the country 20 times over the years, not just with the Coast Guard,” he stated. “It’s been a pleasure to stay in a small town like Shaunavon, its always nice to see a place you haven’t been to before.” 

Ferguson added that this could be one of his last cross-Canada treks.

“I’m nearing the end for me,” he smiled. “I’ve been flying a helicopter since I was 20. It’s been 47 years.”

Travel Update – Dave got back to us after concluding his trip to Ottawa saying that the crew encountered a cold front and associated thunderstorms along the north shore of Lake Superior enroute to Marathon on Saturday morning. “Ironically, we landed at an old, destaffed Light Station named Battle Island to wait it out. We were delayed for a few hours and also had to divert to Wawa to get around the weather. We made it to North Bay that night – one stop short of Ottawa, where we arrived on Sunday morning.”