In 1978, the Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary, a non-profit organization, was formed after it became clear that a formal organization for training volunteer search and rescuers was necessary in order to improve the CCG's response to maritime search and rescue incidents, particularly in remote locations. 

In 1997, the Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary was renamed to the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, and their areas of operations were split to match the areas of operation of the Coast Guard: 

• Newfoundland and Labrador

• Maritimes (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island)

• Quebec

• Central and the Arctic (Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut)

• Pacific (British Columbia)

For our region, Western (British Columbia), the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary was rebranded as Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RMCSAR) in 2012 to signify the service's non-governmental and volunteer-based status. The change assisted the public in British Columbia to better understand the community-based nature of the service and the importance of local support in maintaining rescue vessels, recruiting and training volunteers, and equipping them with the tools they need to save lives on the water. 

The title "Royal" was granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in February 2012 in recognition of the organization's long-standing service, broad geographic coverage, and philanthropic mandate. 

In 2017, RCMSAR signed a memorandum of understanding with the Province of British Columbia to allow local authorities and provincial agencies to request assistance from RCMSAR directly in times of emergency specifically related to their jurisdictions, for example, water ambulance mode transportation and ground search support where vessels are requested by the police. 

During the same year, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Inc. became the organization's legal name. Incorporating as a non-profit meant that RCMSAR Inc. could enter into contracts, purchase assets, own property, borrow money, and generally conduct business. The incorporation also limits the liability of the members, who are not personally liable for the corporation's debts. 

Today, more than 950 volunteers operate 31 rescue stations on the west coast of British Columbia and in the inland waters of the Shuswap in BC's interior. Collectively, they respond to an average of 450 - 500 missions per year, or about a third of all marine emergencies in B.C. 

RCMSAR is reimbursed for fuel used for missions and on-water training from the Canadian Coast Guard through a Contribution Agreement in support of the Coast Guard's marine search and rescue mandate. However, the majority of funding is also provided by the Province of British Columbia through Community Gaming Grants for vessels and equipment. RCMSAR also depends on donations from individuals, corporations, and community and private foundations.

Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) Station 60 – Comox Valley was formed by a number of boaters who put their own boats on duty for a week at a time. 

Our station became official in the mid-1980s as part of the series of stations that were a part of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary - Pacific (now known as Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue) funded by the Comox Valley Marine Search and Rescue Society. 

Our station was rebranded as Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 60 - Comox when the Pacific branch as a whole rebranded in 2012, when it became clear that our non-profit volunteer organization needed to signal that stations are mostly community funded via donations and grants.

The not-for-profit society funding our station is called the Comox Valley Marine Rescue Society (CVMRS). Founded in 2003, the society is run by a Board of Directors, all volunteers, who dictate how funding is allocated and work hard to ensure our station continues to run efficiently and smoothly with regular maintenance on vessels, high-end equipment, and gear for our dedicated search and rescue volunteers.

Initially, our station was equipped with volunteers' personal boats, ranging in size, speed and type, but when the station became official, it was decided that our station needed a designated search and rescue vessel, and we purchased a used hydrographic services vessel. 

This vessel, originally named Petrel, is a 25-foot, Bertram-design, planing-hull cuddy cabin built by Canoe Cove in Sidney. After spending a winter refurbishing the boat and modifying it for rescue work, it was launched as the Bruce Brown, named for the unit leader.  

This vessel served our station until the early 1990s, when the station realized there was a need for a faster response vessel that had a wider variety of uses. They purchased a new vessel, a custom-built aluminum vessel built by Daigle Welding and Marine in Campbell River. The new boat was launched in the late 1990s as the Bruce Brown II.  

In 2008, our station was able to purchase a 23-foot inflatable RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) to provide access to the shallow waters along the coastline in the Comox Valley area. This vessel was named the Paul Giles, who served as an Air Force flying instructor, became a Snowbird pilot from 1987 - 1988, and was a highly contributing member of our station.

In 2014, the Bruce Brown II was replaced by a 37ft Falkin Class I Jet Drive Rescue Vessel, now known as Cape Lazo.