In 1967 a group of Oshawa boaters realized that there was a need for a rescue boat to help local boaters in times of trouble. This group then approached the City of Oshawa, ON located on Lake Ontario east of Toronto for their help in securing a vessel. The City of Oshawa agreed to assist and COMRA (City of Oshawa Marine Rescue Association) was developed. The Boat provided was a 1961, 31ft Bertram, gulf coast fishing boat with twin drives and the capability of about 34 knots.

In 1968 COMRA was born.

In 1979 COMRA became one of the founding members of the CMRA (Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary). This group of rescue boats started the first volunteer marine rescue association in Canada that assisted the Canadian Coast Guard in Search and Rescue. In 1996, the Canadian Coast Guard with these groups, changed the name of the association to the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.

COMRA's Unit number is 009 within the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Central & Arctic Region, and we have a secondary SAR vessel which is named COMRA640.