Campbell River Search and Rescue

Campbell River Search and Rescue Society is a group of dedicated volunteers who provide a vital lifeline to those who are lost or injured in the beautiful wilderness of northern Vancouver Island.

The nature of search and rescue work in British Columbia seems to be changing. Because of technology, we are doing less actual searching and more responding to calls of help from people who can tell us where they are. But the challenge for us is that we must still stay trained and ready for the next big search.

Campbell River Search and Rescue would not be a fraction of what it is today, without ongoing support from our community. Local government, service clubs, businesses and individuals have contributed enormous resources toward training, equipment and facilities, and for that we are very grateful. Tax deductible donations can be made directly through our website.

BC SAR Groups do not solicit funds by phone

Neither the BCSARA nor the Search and Rescue groups recognized by the Province as part of the Public Safety Lifeline solicit funding by telephone. You can learn more about this policy, and what to do if someone has contacted you by phone claiming to be a SAR group requesting funds here: BCSARA : Telephone Solicitation

It was another busy year for Campbell River Search & Rescue.

As always, the range of our call outs are wide and varied over Vancouver island and it’s inlets and surrounding...

SRD Recognizes Volunteers Judy Hagen and Marg Carr for Ten Years of Regional Emergency Support Services

Picture attached: Rick Wall (Chair, NIEP Society) acknowledged Marg Carr & Judy Hagen with flowers and...

We are #CRSAR – Meet Eric Teramura

WE ARE #CRSAR Search and Rescue works because of a dedicated group of volunteers. This dedicated group of volunteers...

Pickle What is it like to be found by a search dog? Our search dog, Pickle, shows you what you might see! He is a very good boy. BC AdventureSmart British Columbia Search and Rescue Association @BCSARAssoc @BCAdvSmart

Timeline Photos What happens if one SAR group needs extra help? For large or complex searches, we ask other groups for help! This is called "mutual aid". This year have been called all over BC to help out! @BCSARAssoc @BCAdvSmart BC AdventureSmart ...

Timeline Photos Happy Monday! What's carrying you through this week?
BC AdventureSmart British Columbia Search and Rescue Association @BCSARAssoc @BCAdvSmart

Knowledge Network We're overjoyed with all of the excitement to watch Search and Rescue: North Shore - Series. With such high demand, you may be experiencing slower than normal service on our website and apps.
Please be patient. Our tech team is ...

Current and future leaders from Island SAR teams spent their weekend building skills and wearing masks.

Timeline Photos While you are home and warm And comfortable, perhaps watching Netflix or just chillin with your family, our awesome SAR members are out there in the chilly dark forest practicing low angle slope rescue techniques. Thanks team! #SARlife #prepared

Photos from Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society's post Over the past 3 days, several of our members, along with other island SAR teams have provided mutual aid to Pemberton SAR on the search for a pair of missing mushroom pickers. The search is currently ongoing.

Comox Valley Search & Rescue Comox Valley, along with other island teams from Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society, Arrowsmith Search And Rescue, Nanaimo Search and Rescue and Alberni Valley Rescue Squad, are actively assisting lower mainland teams in this active search in Pemberton.

Photos from Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society's post Just a friendly reminder that the deadline for applicants to become CRSAR members is November 6. Click the link for more details about the application process.http://www.crsar.ca/becoming-a-member/

Congratulations to all the newly minted Ground Search Team Leaders on Vancouver Island! We had a couple members from CRSAR attend this course over the weekend.
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#crsar #sar #bcsara #jibc

Comox Valley Record Newsroom Thanks to everyone involved in this rescue...

Campbell River Search and Rescue was called out early this morning to assist Comox Valley SAR. Besides a positive outcome, one of the best things about early calls is getting to see the sunrise from beautiful places!

Timeline Photos This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for all our volunteers who help to make BC a safer place to explore!
@BCAdvSmart @BCSARAssoc

Timeline Photos Our SAR team uses many different modes of transportation, from ferries to kayaks to helicopters. How are you getting around this long weekend? British Columbia Search and Rescue Association BC AdventureSmart

49 North Helicopters Early mission this morning with Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society and BC Emergency Health Services in the Strathcona Park 🗻

Timeline Photos We've been busy! Hours after doing in a hoist rescue of three injured climbers, members of CRSAR were back in the air again to extract another injured woman. Our 6th call in 10 days. BC AdventureSmart British Columbia Search and ...

Don't need to panic if you see us on the Campbell River tonight! We are practicing our skills to keep us ready when you need us!

Hoist team rescues injured Mid-Island climber Watch and read about our most recent rescue on Warden Peak.
A volunteer search and rescue team completed a difficult helicopter hoist rescue after a climber became injured on Vancouver Island.

Missing mushroom picker found “alive and well” after three-day search in Ucluelet - Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly... Some of our members were down in Tofino to help out with this successful search! Always a great feeling!
“It’s always great to have a positive outcome like this.”

Timeline Photos Happy Monday! What's carrying you through this week?
BC AdventureSmart British Columbia Search and Rescue Association @BCSARAssoc @BCAdvSmart

Winter has arrived on the Island Mountains! It is exciting to see the snow fall and to start to make plans for winter adventures.
Early winter travel carries significant hazards in addition to avalanche danger. The snow pack is just starting to form, which leaves incomplete coverage of rocks, stumps, logs, stream beds and other terrain traps. Winter travel can be further complicated by shorter days, slower travel, and the risk of hypothermia. All of these factors also complicates our ability to respond quickly.
As we shift into winter, consider your experience level and the changing conditions. Double check your gear, and ensure you are heading out with a crew you trust. Pick attainable and realistic objectives, whether on skis, snowshoes, splitboard or boots.
Once it is up and running the avalanche bulletin can be found here: https://www.islandavalanchebulletin.com/
BC AdventureSmart also has great resources on safe winter travel: https://www.adventuresmart.ca/winter/winter.htm

Nanaimo RCMP We are happy that the search was successful. By keeping supplies in their truck, they were able to persevere through the cold nights. A good reminder to keep your vehicle stocked with emergency supplies this winter!
Nanaimo RCMP Media Advisory
Nanaimo file # 2020-41121
Date of release- Saturday November 14, 2020
Missing couple and dog found alive
The Nanaimo RCMP is pleased to announce that Tamara Sandulak, Cody Martin and their dog Rex were found alive at approximately 8:15 am on Saturday November 14, 2020. The three were located at Moriarty Lake, approximately 16 kilometres north west from Second Lake. Other than being cold and hungry, all three were in relatively good health.
The couple told police that their truck had broken down at the lake. They decided to stay in their vehicle for warmth in hope that they would be found. This morning, they decided it was time to walk out and find help. After a short distance they managed to obtain enough cell reception to place a call to a family member. RCMP Air 8 was immediately dispatched to their location and transported the three to the SAR command post.
"This is the outcome everyone was hoping and praying for. We would like to acknowledge all of the dedicated volunteers and especially each and every Search an Rescue volunteer, who provided expertise and commitment to this arduous search effort. This was a tremendous effort by so many, "said Constable Gary O'Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
Mosaic Forest Management were also instrumental in providing resources, maps and invaluable insight to the search areas. Additionally, Mike Gogo owner of Mike Gogo Cedar Products, was also key as he graciously allowed Search and Rescue to re-stage at his property today. It was at his property where the missing couple and their dog were reunited with family members.
The picture provided shows RCMP Air 8 picking up a very grateful and hungry Tamara, Cody and Rex at Moriarty Lake.

CalTopo In close partnership with the American Avalanche Association the USFS National Avalanche Center, and Avalanche Canada , CalTopo now includes avalanche forecasting for the US and Canada.
These forecasts are delivered in realtime from forecasting organizations and displayed on the Avalanche Forecast layer in both the app and on the web. We focused a great deal on ensuring accurate and up to date forecast information is shown. For obvious reasons this layer requires internet connectivity.
We strongly encourage users to click on the forecast to get further forecast details and discussion. We also recommend that all backcountry travelers spend time educating themselves on winter travel. The American Avalanche Associate and Avalanche Canada both provide excellent educational resources for you to do so!

Current and future leaders from Island SAR teams spent their weekend building skills and wearing masks.

Ski Touring During the Age of Covid: Episode 1 - Daily Touring An ER physician (and North Shore SAR team member) from the Royal Columbian Hospital in Vancouver provided some great tips for staying safe while skiing this season in the context of Covid. Just some food for thought as we continue to navigate this strange year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utIAmtIqCY4&fbclid=IwAR0rsQjTWJt7l75Stc6fWSmWmamV1k1voJW_bjBMd5n6tscMWsIFeCH5UP0&ab_channel=GenuineGuideGear
Ski Touring During the Age of Covid Episode 1 - Daily Touring Ski touring during the age of Covid is possible, but it takes more thought and preparation. We ...

Timeline Photos Sometimes we are just fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Coincidence? Serendipity? 🤔 Not sure, but either way our low angle slope rescue practice location was perfectly timed and situated for a call to assist a hiker who became disoriented and lost in the dark last night, only a few kilometres away! All in a nights work for CRSAR members. #preparation #luck🍀 #whentheuniversealigns

Over the past week Campbell River Search and Rescue took part in the search for two missing mushroom pickers in the Mackenzie Basin area near Pemberton. We want to offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and community of Peter Andrew Oleski and River Moon Leo.
It was a privilege to work with the devoted and passionate searchers of the Lil’wat Nation, the Stl’atl’imx Tribal police, the RCMP and the multiple SAR teams from across BC.

Photos from Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society's post On Thursday October 15th Campbell River SAR was called out to an injured hiker on the Ripple Rock trail. The subject, Judy, had slipped and fallen hurting her lower leg and couldn't continue on the trail. Medical supplies, stretcher and stretcher wheel were sent out and the subject was packaged and taken to the ocean where it was best to transport her by boat to a waiting ambulance on a near by dock. It was later determined that Judy had a broken Fibula.
Thank you to Comox Valley Search & Rescue for the boat transport.
A huge thank you for Judy's hiking partner, Dave, for taking pictures and lending them to us to share.
The subject stayed in one location, had a communication device and did the right thing by calling for help. Slips and trips do happen in the wilderness and we are sure glad they called us!
Take a look at the pictures to get a step by step process into what happened in the callout. All comments are by Judy's hiking partner.
#crsar #sar #bcsara British Columbia Search and Rescue Association BC AdventureSmart

Sit. Stay. Search. Becoming a search validated dog in BC is a very difficult thing to do. We are very fortunate to have a number of search dogs on Vancouver Island including our very Pickle and her dog handler Sheila. Watch the video to see what it's like to become a SAR validated doghttps://vimeo.com/469309220?fbclid=IwAR1B95QjyXxpyDPkq5dx-UkgIWGeYfGVcvGIh0V0F5S5ZJ-mY4fvBPBcwfw

Congratulations to all the newly minted Ground Search Team Leaders on Vancouver Island! We had a couple members from CRSAR attend this course over the weekend.
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#crsar #sar #bcsara #jibc

Comox Valley Record Newsroom Thanks to everyone involved in this rescue...

Comox Valley Search & Rescue Island teams deployed to assist Squamish Search and Rescue in the search for a missing Vancouver man, including K9 teams from Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society, Nanaimo Search and Rescue and Comox Valley SAR. Command staff from Campbell River SAR and Comox Valley SAR have provided command staff through the 7 days of the search that involved many lower mainland and island teams. Despite extensive efforts by the RCMP, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, BC Conservation Service and British Columbia Search and Rescue Association, the active search was suspended late Saturday pending further investigation.

Timeline Photos This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for all our volunteers who help to make BC a safer place to explore!
@BCAdvSmart @BCSARAssoc

BC AdventureSmart Trip Plan Tuesday.
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Slowly work up to new activities.
An inability to properly evaluate one’s own skills can turn an outdoor trip into a SAR incident.
(*Unicyclist is a highly trained athlete).
Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society volunteer quotes . . . "Every year we do 3-5 rescues from Strathcona Park, using helicopters and quite often stretchers to rescue people who have overestimated their ability or are the "weak link" in the hiking party. I can’t even count the number of times we have rescued people who, after debriefing, all said the same thing, "The book said it would only take 2-3 days!"
"These are the same people that have poor map reading skills and don’t take into account terrain features, weather or other unforeseen events. Many people don’t understand the difference between a trail—a designated well defined marked trail usually maintained for public access, and a route—an undefined, often unmarked, potentially overgrown or non-existent route which will require navigation using map and compass and geo referencing."
SAR volunteers also reminds outdoors enthusiasts with existing medical conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, asthma, etc. to be particularly aware of the extra stress that a new outdoor activity can be on the body, and to proceed with caution. As well, bring along any daily medications. A trip that takes longer than expected can end up as an emergency situation if important medications are forgotten.
Unicyclist, Kris Holm Unicycles, definitely not a weak link.
https://www.adventuresmart.ca/land/survive-tips.htm

49 North Helicopters Early mission this morning with Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society and BC Emergency Health Services in the Strathcona Park 🗻

Don't need to panic if you see us on the Campbell River tonight! We are practicing our skills to keep us ready when you need us!

We are very proud of our team member Pickle (and his person Sheila) who have certified for another year as a K-9 SAR team! Sheila and Pickle have been on more than a dozen searches in the last year alone, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. It takes a tremendous amount of time and energy to train a SAR dog, and we are extremely grateful to Shelia and Pickle for doing it!
Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society is feeling excited.

Donate to CR SAR

Campbell River Search and Rescue, like other SAR groups in BC relies upon donations and grants in order to maintain our equipment, train our volunteers and keep the lights on.

Faire un don maintenant par CanadaHelps.org!

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Is this an emergency?

For emergencies call 9-1-1

If you are concerned about a friend or family member who is missing, overdue, or possibly injured, please call 911. We are only dispatched via the Police, Fire or Ambulance service. They will make the decision to call us. We would rather be called sooner than later; we don’t mind being turned back when the person shows up without incident! Our (Non-Emergency) Phone: 250-923-2500

Campbell River Volunteer Search and Rescue Society

Welcome to Campbell River Search and Rescue

Join our fantastic volunteers

Campbell River Search and Rescue

BC SAR Groups do not solicit funds by phone

It was another busy year for Campbell River Search & Rescue.

SRD Recognizes Volunteers Judy Hagen and Marg Carr for Ten Years of Regional Emergency Support Services

We are #CRSAR – Meet Eric Teramura

Connect with us online!

Donate to CR SAR

Is this an emergency?

For emergencies call 9-1-1

AdventureSmart Message - Trip Plans

AdventureSmart Message - Be River Smart

AdventureSmart Message - Strathcona Provincial Park