Search and Rescue teams in Prince George are pleased with yesterday's (July 21) announcement of more annual funding being provided by the province.
An annual contribution of $6 million will start in 2022-23 to help support the work of more than 2,500 ground search and rescue volunteers.
“B.C.’s ground search and rescue groups have been calling for long-term, sustainable funding, and we’ve worked with them to meet this need,” B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said in a release.
“But funding is only one way to show our support. Search and rescue volunteers take a risk every time they go out to rescue someone, and that risk is heightened due to COVID-19. I’m calling on all British Columbians to be safe and to make sure your family, friends and neighbours are being safe, so we can reduce the risks for everyone.”
The government says since January, crews have responded to more than 700 calls throughout B.C.
"It is amazing, it’s great to be able to plan for the future of the organization with stable funding," President of Nechako Valley Search and Rescue (NVSAR) Christopher Walker tells PrinceGeorgeMatters.
Since 2015, NVSAR's allocation has ranged from $60,000 to $67,000, which helps pay for training, personal protective equipment, rescue equipment and fixed costs including insurance, maintenance on response vehicles and licenses.
"The amount NVSAR received is based on the recognized capabilities our group has, like swiftwater and flat ice rescue, the size of membership, the number of assets we need to have and maintain and the fixed costs. The British Columbia Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA) developed the Alternative Support Model to capture the funding needs of the 79 recognized ground search and rescue groups and this model was used to decide the past allocations. With this announcement, the province committed to using this model for the future funding and so we anticipate similar future allocations."
Prince George Search and Rescue (PGSAR) echoed a similar message, saying it's pleased they will have more monies to plan for the future.
"The funding news is great!," Search Manager Dale Bull says. "It does provide a level of certainty for the future and will enable us to plan ahead with a much greater level of confidence."
Bull says each team usually gets a base amount with additional funds for each specialty technique they are certified in.
"These specialties include swiftwater rescue, rope rescue, Avalanche response, Helicopter long line rescue (CDFL) and some others. Prince George Search and Rescue has certification in all of these specialties and had received the maximum amount in years past."
The B.C. government provided the one-time, $18.6-million investment in 2019.
