Myth 4: SAR Members are paid

Myth 4: SAR Members are paid

It may seem like SAR members are paid. We are professional, we are well trained, and we reacue people, something you’re probably used to seeing paid people do. Often the media refers to us as “SAR Techs”, or “Search and Rescue Officials”.

The truth is that all Ground SAR members in British Columbia are volunteers. Those people you see on the evening news have regular jobs, and devote their spare time to training, and rescuing people. They take the job seriously, and consider themselves to be unpaid professionals.

In fact, Coquitlam SAR members train once a week, and for one weekend a month, not including first aid and other specialized rescue courses. Our members volunteer between 200 and 300 hours a year to the people of BC. You can read more about our training here.