Seeking PRoject Manager
CVSAR Launches Renovation Project and Seeks Project Manager to Transform Permanent Home Base
After purchasing the Comox Valley Search and Rescue Building with the help of a generous community, Comox Valley Search and Rescue is ready for the next chapter and needs your continued support.
When Comox Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR) secured permanent ownership of its facility at 3001 Moray Avenue in 2025, the team was clear about one thing: buying the building was only the beginning. Now, with ongoing community support and organizational savings in place, CVSAR is officially moving forward with a major renovation of their building and is calling on a qualified Project Manager to lead the way.
The organization is issuing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire an experienced Project Manager to oversee the planning, design, and construction of renovations to its primary operational facility. The project, anticipated to run from 2026 to 2028, will address longstanding gaps in the building that volunteers have worked around for years: inadequate parking and vehicle movement, undersized training and briefing spaces, limited storage for gear and equipment, and aging infrastructure in need of modernization.
“We knew from the start that purchasing this building was only the beginning,” said Gord Thompson, President of CVSAR. “This next phase will make it a facility that truly serves
our members and the community for the next 15 years and beyond. We’re grateful to everyone who believed in this project and helped us get here.”
A Community-Funded Home
The purchase of the CVSAR building was made possible through the Roofs for Rescuers fundraising campaign and a partnership with the Comox Valley Regional District. For more than 30 years, CVSAR operated out of this location while carrying the highest lease costs of any of the 77 SAR teams across British Columbia. Ownership changed all of that.
The team's 60 active volunteers have contributed more than 40,000 hours over the past three years to training, emergency response, and community events. Their coverage area stretches from Oyster River to Cook Creek, includes Denman and Hornby Islands, and extends from the coast to Buttle Lake. The team is on call and response-ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The commitment of CVSAR volunteers goes far beyond their hours. Their dedication to keeping the Comox Valley safe runs deep.
"Our volunteers don't just give their time. They invest their own money in the gear they carry on every training exercise and rescue. This renovation is about making sure the building matches that level of commitment, with facilities that better support our training and strengthen our ability to respond when the community needs us," said Paul Berry, Information Officer, Comox Valley Search and Rescue.
Ongoing community support will help fund the next phase of this project while sustaining the day-to-day operations that keep the team ready to respond. Donations can be made at cvgsar.com/support.
Renovation Goals and Guiding Principles
The renovation is guided by four core principles: Operational Readiness, Safety and Resiliency, Financial Stewardship, and Sustainability and Efficiency. A member survey conducted in January 2026 confirmed several priorities, including better parking and vehicle flow, improved training and briefing space, more storage and gear organization capacity, and modernized building systems including HVAC, electrical, and data infrastructure.
A renovation budget in the range of $600,000 to $1,250,000 has been identified, supported by organizational savings and external funding. CVSAR does not intend to take on debt, but additional grant opportunities and community fundraising will supplement the project. In keeping with the team’s commitment to responsible stewardship, in-kind contributions from community partners, tradespeople, and volunteers will be considered where appropriate.
It Starts With a Project Manager
CVSAR is seeking a Project Manager with formal project management training, a minimum of five years managing building renovation projects of $500,000 or greater, and experience coordinating architects, engineers, and contractors. Familiarity with non-profit or emergency services organizations and with permitting and regulatory processes in British Columbia is an asset.
The selected Project Manager will work closely with CVSAR's Building Upgrade Task Force, a group of experienced members representing multiple operational disciplines, through all phases of the project, from requirements validation and concept development through to construction oversight and project closeout.
The RFP closes June 19, 2026 at midnight. Proposals must be submitted by email to buildingrfp@cvgsar.com. Questions may be submitted until May 22, 2026. The full RFP is available at cvgsar.com and attached to this release.
About Comox Valley Search and Rescue
For more than 40 years, Comox Valley Search and Rescue has provided a full spectrum of emergency services to the Comox Valley and surrounding region, including wilderness and urban searches, rope and swiftwater rescue, avalanche and mountain response, and emergency first aid.
Media Contacts
Gord Thompson, President — gord.thompson@cvgsar.com
Paul Berry, Information Officer & Search Manager — paul.berry@cvgsar.com
