Frequently Asked Questions

YES

Everyone in Coquitlam Search and Rescue is a volunteer. In fact, all Search and Rescue groups in British Columbia (and the rest of Canada) are volunteers.

During a search, Helicopters and certain other services are paid for by the Province, so pilots and some other contractors are paid, but ground searchers are not paid for their time – whether it’s searching, training or managing their respective teams.

There are SAR teams all over the province.

If you would like to get involved, you can try to contact one in your area. To find out where the closest team is, you can look at the BC Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA) web site where there is a map showing where each one is located.

If you are interested in joining Coquitlam Search and Rescue, you can review the membership page, and our selection process. You might also want to look at the training section to get more idea of what sorts of skills we look for and what sort of time commitment is involved. We go through a recruitment cycle every few years.

People have different reasons for volunteering their time to Search and Rescue, but the common thread is that they are passionate about helping their community, and have skills in the backcountry, first aid, or SAR management that they think can be valuable.

Whatever reason our members have for volunteering, Coquitlam SAR is extremely glad they do it.

Most SAR groups in British Columbia are non-profit societies, and are funded via donations, grants, and government funding.

Costs incurred during a search such as helicopter time, vehicle mileage, meals, and replacing damaged or worn equipment, are paid directly by the Province of British Columba.

Learn more about how SAR works in British Columbia at the Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) page.  

If you’re interested in supporting Coquitlam Search and Rescue in any way, please see our support page.

NO

Rescue is provided as a free public service throughout Canada.

As mentioned above, SAR groups are funded through a mixture of donations, grants and public funding, but when on a search all costs are bourn directly by the Government of BC, and hence taxpayer funded.

Search and Rescue groups in BC are vehemently against charging money for rescue, a policy eloquently explained by the BC Search and Rescue Association’s position statement “No Charge for Rescue”.

NO (not directly)

SAR teams in BC cannot, and do not, initiate searches. We’re activated by what we call “tasking agencies” which include the Police, Fire Departments, BCEHS, etc.

What this means for the public is if you feel you need rescue you need to call 911 and ask for SAR.

If you do not have cell phone service

• you can activate a Satellite Emergency Messaging Device such as an Inreach, SPOT or Zoleo device
• use a modern iPhone or Android device with satellite messaging features
• activate a Personal Locator Beacon

If all else fails, all backcountry travelers should leave a Trip Plan with someone they trust who will call 911 for them if they don’t return on time.

For more information on how to activate SAR, see AdventureSmart.

78 Ground SAR Teams

In British Columbia there are over 80 volunteer Ground Search and Rescue groups all over the province. In addition Royal Canadian Marine SAR manages 31 rescue stations.

In the southwest region of the province there are the following teams:

• Central Fraser Valley SAR
• Chilliwack SAR
• Coquitlam SAR (us!)
• Hope SAR
• Kent Harrison SAR
• Lions Bay SAR
• North Shore Rescue
• Pemberton SAR
• Ridge Meadows SAR
• Squamish Search and Rescue
• South Fraser SAR
• Sunshine Coast SAR
• Whistler SAR

To see a list and a map of all SAR groups in BC you can visit the BC Search and Rescue Association web site.

There are many ways to support our team!

The easiest is to go to the Donate Now page. Coquitlam SAR has partnered with CanadaHelps, an organization that supports Canadian charitable societies. You can donate via an online form, and they will send you a tax receipt.

For other ways to support the team, please see the Support Us page.

For missing tax receipts, CanadaHelps provides instructions here. This includes all kinds of helpful advice: Retrieving second copies of lost receipts; or what you can do, if you misspell your email address, etc.

If you need more assistance, Contact us and we will get to the bottom of it.