SAR team planning search after being dropped off.
We are looking for a group of dedicated, community minded individuals who are motivated to spend their time helping others.
Coquitlam SAR responds to between 30 to 40 SAR incidents a year, ranging from lost hikers, children, elderly, people with dementia and developmental disabilities, injured people, boaters, 4×4 drivers, and mountain bikers among many other kinds of tasks. We cover an area of the province bounded by Indian Arm on the west, Pitt Lake on the east, the Fraser River to the south, and Garibaldi Park to the north. We respond to the communities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, Belcarra, Burnaby and New Westminster. We also respond to assist SAR teams throughout the province when additional resources are required.
Changing Requirements
Coquitlam SAR celebrated our 40th anniversary in 2012, and looking at how the team has grown and changed over the years we have realized that we need a different class of volunteers. To date, the team has recruited for members who are all “field active” — these members train in all the basic SAR skills such as first aid, wilderness survival, search techniques, communications, etc. However, these same volunteers perform all of the administrative tasks on the team as well; accounting, gear maintenance, communications testing and information technology.
We have decided that the team has reached a state where these tasks are demanding more resources, and are taking time away from keeping our rescue skills sharp. So this year we are recruiting for two types of new members.
Field Active Members
We are recruiting regular field active SAR volunteers.
This web site contains descriptions of what SAR volunteers do. We carry a pager. We respond any time of the day or night. We look for lost people. We rescue lost and injured people. We speak to the community about wilderness safety. We train in various SAR skills.
If you are selected you will undergo a rigorous training program, you will be a member in training for over a year, and you will be expected to attend all training and most SAR tasks during that period. You will be expected to be able to dedicate at least 5 years to the team, and to be available for tasks.
Support and Resource Members
All team administration is currently done by our field active members, but we are changing that in the face of the many demands on our volunteer’s time. As a support member of the team you will be faced with the challenge of managing a large, active Search and Rescue team with a wide range of needs and a very interesting profile. From accounting to fundraising, from communications to computer software, the team needs a group of skilled, dedicated and creative people to keep us ready to perform our task of saving lives.
Resource members of the team are those who provide some specific skill set or expertise that, while not required for day to day operations, ma be useful from time to time.
We are looking for people with the following skills.
- Administration
General administration skills; filing, paperwork, maintaining schedules and gear lists. - Accounting
Specializing in non profit, charitable societies. - Information Technology
The team’s software and hardware assets are Windows based PC servers and laptops and we have some interesting networking requirements. - Fundraising
Coquitlam SAR relies on grants and donations from the public to fund our public safety program. We need someone to assist us in our fundraising goals. - Communications
The team has an array of VHF and UHF radios, repeaters and some significant communications challenges to be overcome.
Recruits from 2010
The Process
Applicants for field active positions on the team, please review the membership page for requirements then fill in the application form.
Applicants for support and resource positions on the team, please write a cover letter outlining your skills.
All information about the selection process, interview and other requirements are on our membership page.
Applications can be submitted via email, regular mail or fax.
All prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the information session which we will schedule for early September.
Time Frame
- Information session:
Wednesday, September 25th at 7PM,
Coquitlam City Hall Council Chambers,
3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam BC - Deadline for applications:
September 30th. - Recruitment Hike:
Early October - Interviews:
Mid to late October