Account Login/Registration

Access KelownaNow using your Facebook account, or by entering your information below.


Facebook


OR


Register

Privacy Policy

Why BC Search and Rescue continues to be volunteer-run

As the weather warms up, more people will be heading into the outdoors to hike, bike, camp and generally enjoy the wilderness of BC.

It's also the time when BC Search and Rescue starts to get more calls.

The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) responded to two incidents with in 90 minutes on Monday.

<who> Photo Credit: Facebook Central Okanagan Search & Rescue

With almost more than 1,500 rescues per year, 2,500 volunteers and 80 different registered teams, the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA) continues to operate on a volunteer-basis.

This has been a hot topic based on the amount of resources a rescue can require, including Air Search and Rescue, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue and Ground Search and Rescue.

The BCSARA's position on the service is that there is a moral obligation to help others.

"The moral obligation of helping those in need will always take precedence over political, legal, economic and jurisdictional issues," stated a spokesperson for BCSARA.

The organization conducts searches ranging from urban searches for people with dementia, wilderness searches for people lost on hikes, to backcountry rescues requiring technical equipment.

"The BCSARA believes that the perceived or actual belief that a lost or injured person of their loved ones will be charged for a search and rescue response could directly affect the decision as to if or when a call for professional help will be made."

About 100,000 volunteer hours are donated to search and rescue each year in BC.

The volunteers have found 95 per cent of their subjects within the first 24 hours of a SAR group being activated.

The cost to replace the volunteer service in salary dollars would cost $20,000,000 per year. This doesn't include costs for infrastructure, which would be an added $50 million.

In March, the Province allocated $80 million to various search and rescue groups, including the Salvation Army, Avalanche Canada and Fire Chiefs Association of BC.

The BCSARA received $5 million towards equipment renewals.

"It will allow for a third year of disbursements to the groups, as well as to continue provincial initiatives such as the AdventureSmart prevention program," stated Chris Kelly, president of BCSARA.

"Continuity in funding allows us to plan ahead for the next two years."

For the breakdown of the Province's allocation to search and rescue groups, read here.

What are your thoughts?

Do you know someone has required BCSARA services and can speak to its services?

Do you think the organization should continue on a volunteer basis?

Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!



If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.

If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.


Send your comments, news tips, typos, letter to the editor, photos and videos to news@kelownanow.com.



Weather
webcam icon

weather-icon
Fri
12℃

weather-icon
Sat
12℃

weather-icon
Sun
15℃

weather-icon
Mon
17℃

weather-icon
Tue
16℃

weather-icon
Wed
12℃

current feed webcam icon

Recent Livestream




Top Stories

Follow Us

Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Linkedin Follow us on Youtube Listen on Soundcloud Follow Our TikTok Feed Follow Our RSS Follow Our pinterest Feed
Follow Our Newsletter
Privacy Policy