Comox Valley Search and Rescue has played a vital role in the Comox Valley for over 40 years and we look forward to many more years of service.

We are a volunteer organization providing a wide range of search and rescue services, including rope and swift water rescue, avalanche rescue, and first aid. Our coverage area ranges from Oyster River in the north to Cook Creek in the south and from Buttle Lake in the west to the Georgia Strait in the east, including Denman and Hornby Islands. We also work closely with other Search and Rescue groups to provide mutual aid to communities across the province.

Our highly committed volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In 2021, our 60+ members collectively contributed over 11,500 hours to search and rescue operations, educational programs, and community events.

Helping communities across the island

Rain or shine...

Our Specialty Search and Rescue Teams

About the BC Search and Rescue Association

Comox Valley Search and Rescue is represented by the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association

The British Columbia Search and Rescue Association enhances the provision of ground search and rescue services in the province by bringing together all SAR professionals in BC to discuss and resolve issues, by accessing funding for training, providing occupational health and safety support, educating the general public on outdoor safety and acting as a common link to information and resources for Search and Rescue practitioners across British Columbia.

Mission and Mandate

The British Columbia Search and Rescue Association was registered in 2002 as a non-profit society and enhances the provision of volunteer search and rescue services in the province by facilitating access to funding, educating the general public on outdoor safety, and providing volunteers with a common link to information and resources. The Board of Directors approved their revised purposes and bylaws in January 2007.

The BC Search and Rescue Association Directors are comprised of search and rescue volunteers from all over the province as well as agency representatives from:

  1. Emergency Management BC
  2. Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  3. British Columbia Police Association
  4. Justice Institute of BC
  5. British Columbia Ambulance Service
  6. Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC

Together, volunteers and agency representatives make up the Board of Directors for the BCSAR Association.

British Columbia Search and Rescue Association
P.O. Box 2176
Sidney, B.C.
V8L 3S6, Canada
+1 (778) 584-5882

BC is divided into regions that contain SAR groups. Each region is represented by a BCSARA regional director.  Comox Valley SAR is a member of the Vancouver Island North region.

Vancouver Island North is comprised of :

West Coast Inland SAR
Alberni Valley Rescue Squad
Nanaimo SAR
Arrowsmith SAR
Comox Valley SAR
Powell River SAR
Campbell River SAR

These groups are represented by Paul Poulson, Regional Director Vancouver Island North, BCSARA
northisl@bcsara.com