Comox Valley Search & Rescue

Today on International Women’s Day we celebrate the women of Comox Valley Search and Rescue. Past, present and future. We showcase our female members, recognize and thank them for their talents, commitment, sacrifice and hard work.

We also recognize that we need to do more for these amazing women - only a quarter of our team are female and they occupy relatively few positions of leadership.

We commit to increasing representation, access and retention. We commit to equal access to training and leadership opportunities. We commit to equipment and clothing that fits and a safe working environment free of gender bias, discrimination and harassment.

Women, you belong and your presence is needed. Be you and take up space. Pursue speciality skills and leadership roles. Mentor and support other women, champion each other, you are not in competition. If there is not room at the table then pull up your own chair and make space. Your presence, perspectives, talents and skills are needed and wanted.

Men, equality requires the participation of everyone. Educate yourselves, be open to listening and growing. Be allies and call out sexist behaviour when you hear or see it. The rise of women is not about the fall of men.

Diversity and equality are critical to our success and will ultimately make our team, our community and our society stronger.

Dedicated to women in SAR everywhere, Jelena, Aspen and Cassy.

Big news from Comox Valley Search & Rescue — we’ve launched a brand new website! 🎉

www.cvgsar.com

The new site makes it easier for our community to learn who we are, what we do, and how search and rescue works here in the Comox Valley. You’ll find:

• Info about our volunteer team and rescue capabilities

• Simple ways to donate and support our work

As a volunteer team, we rely on the support of this community to stay trained, equipped, and ready to respond when people need us most. This new website helps us share that story and connect more easily with the people we serve.

A big thank you to Bright Idea Business Solutions for their help bringing the new site to life. We’re grateful for their support of local search and rescue.

Your support helps keep search and rescue strong in the Comox Valley.

Bright Idea Business Solutions

**Edit: We neglected to mention Oyster River Fire Department who were also out responding to flooding calls and were working alongside our team, right down to the sheep wrangling! BC Transit was also onsite with buses to keep the evacuees warm and dry. Great interagency teamwork by all involved! **

Yesterday was a big one for Comox Valley Search & Rescue.

Our team responded to three separate incidents, with two running at the same time. One call took place in Merville, another along the Puntledge River from Maple Pool to the estuary, and a third on Stephan Road just west of Piercy Road.

By the end of the day, 30+ CVSAR members had stepped in across a wide range of roles. Together, we helped 11 people, 5 dogs, 1 cat, and 4 sheep get safely out of flooded areas. All were transferred to Emergency Support Services (ESS) for registration and lodging.

Yes, sheep. Volunteers brought four of them through waist-high floodwaters to safety.

“First time for sheep,” said search manager Paul Berry. “We’ve had a couple horses and certainly lots of dog rescues, but first time for sheep.”

We were dispatched to assist homeowners along Headquarters Road during conditions that led to flood warnings and a local state of emergency. The Comox Valley Regional District, working together with the City of Courtenay and K’ómoks First Nation, declared a local state of emergency due to rising waters, flooding, and risk to property.

A safety reminder

Fast-moving water is extremely dangerous. Riverbanks can be undercut and unstable, and water levels can rise quickly with little warning. Please stay well back from rivers, streams, and flooded areas, and respect all closures and directions from emergency personnel.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

We are grateful for the teamwork shown by our members, our local government partners, ESS volunteers, and the residents who worked with responders during a stressful and uncertain time. The strength of this community really shows when it matters most.

Only 2 days left. Draw is December 29.

There’s still time to support a special community initiative and have a chance to win the 50/50 draw in support of Comox Valley Search and Rescue.

The Comox Valley United Soccer Club Men’s Team is once again raising funds for CVSAR in honour of Thomas “Tom” Butcher, a beloved member of their team who tragically lost his life in a kayaking accident in December 2016.

Tom was known for his character, generosity, and the way he showed up for others both on and off the field. Each year, Tom’s teammates and friends carry his legacy forward by hosting this indoor memorial tournament, led by his brother Joe. To date, the tournament has raised over $20,000 for CVSAR.

This year’s funds will support a major milestone for our team. We recently purchased our first permanent building. It’s a huge step forward, but the space needs significant renovation to properly support training, operations, and emergency response. Funds raised go directly toward making that new hall a functional long-term home for our volunteers and the community.

🎟 50/50 ticket options:

• 2 tickets for $10
• 6 tickets for $20
• 20 tickets for $50

Every ticket supports this meaningful memorial and helps strengthen local search and rescue.

👉 Get your tickets here:

https://cvsar.rafflenexus.com

Thank you to the Comox Valley United Men’s Team, Tom’s family, and everyone who continues to support this beautiful initiative.

Join us in congratulating our newest six Rope Rescue Technician 1 (RRT-1) members.

Rope Rescue Technician 1 is the second of several provincial training courses that prepares SAR volunteers to safely and effectively carry out rope rescue operations in wildland environments.

These members have spent the past six months training, practicing, and building the skills required for complex technical rescues. We’re proud of the dedication and commitment they’ve shown, and excited to have them contributing to our rope rescue team.

Well done, team. 👏

CVSAR Callout – Cumberland

Late Saturday morning, Comox Valley Search and Rescue was called out to assist BCEHS with a medical rescue on the Blockhead Trail in Cumberland.

A mountain biker had sustained a fall with serious injury requiring. CVSAR members responded quickly and worked alongside BCEHS to assess, treat, and safely extricate the patient from the trail.

Due to the nature of their injuries, the team carried out a technical stretcher extrication to minimize movement and reduce the risk of further injury. Air transport was explored, but weather conditions and aircraft availability meant the patient was ultimately transported by ground ambulance to hospital, with critical care support meeting the crew en route.

This call also highlighted recent advances in CVSAR’s medical capabilities. Comox Valley Search and Rescue has recently launched its own Advanced Medical Team (AMT), supported by dedicated medical direction. The team is overseen by emergency physicians and includes actively practicing paramedics, allowing advanced patient care and clinical decision-making to happen in the field.

With this structure, paramedics and medical personnel are able to work to their full scope of practice, supporting pain management, trauma assessment, transport decision-making, and direct coordination with BCEHS and other responding agencies. Calls like this one, where all aspects of the AMT come together seamlessly, are exactly why this program was created.

We wish the patient a smooth and full recovery, and thank BCEHS, EMCR, and all responding agencies for their collaboration and support.

As always, thank you to our volunteers who leave work, family, and weekend plans to help people in our community when they need it most.