Kimberley Search & Rescue

Who we are

East Kootenay Search and Rescue Society, also known as Kimberley Search and Rescue (KimSAR), is a group of trained volunteers who respond to requests from the RCMP and other agencies to assist in locating and rescuing lost or injured persons. We currently have an active membership of over forty members.

What we do

KimSAR is a ground search and rescue group with several technical specialty disciplines. Some rescue scenarios, such as rope, swiftwater, ice, and avalanche rescue, involve a level of training that goes beyond the GSAR course. These rescues require special training and experience to perform safely. If KimSAR is tasked by the RCMP to conduct a technical rescue, we call upon our members with the appropriate skills for the task. If needed, we will organize mutual aid support from all the Search and Rescue groups in the East Kootenays and beyond.

Where we work

KimSAR responds primarily to incidents within the Kimberley RCMP detachment area, and we work closely with our neighbouring teams in Cranbrook, Columbia Valley, Sparwood, and beyond. KimSAR's area of responsibility covers approximately 10,000 square kilometres - from Canal Flats in the north, east into the Rockies, south to Fort Steele and the Cranbrook airport, west to include the St. Mary's drainage up to the Grey Creek Pass, then north again through St. Mary's Alpine Park. Needless to say, it is a very large area with many opportunities for recreation.

KimSAR also works closely with the Emergency Management BC (EMBC), the agency responsible for coordinating government response to emergencies or disasters that cannot be handled at the local level. In the event of such an emergency, KimSAR will be integrated into a multi-agency Incident Command System (ICS) as part of the overall emergency response. 

Contact

For emergencies: 911

Non-emergency: Search and Rescue Manager
Phone: 250.427.1042
Info@kimberleysar.org

Join East Kootenay Search and Rescue Society

The Search and Rescue group meets every Tuesday (except the 5th Tuesday of the month, if there is one) and some weekends at the Kimberley Search and Rescue Bays (across the parking lot from the Fire Hall). Normal training hours are from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. On training nights, always be fully prepared to train outdoors - this includes bringing a ready pack, sturdy boots, long pants, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Our training curriculum is administered by the BC Justice Institute and facilitated by dedicated volunteer instructors.  Courses offered include basic Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR), Ground Search Team Leader (GSTL), Avalanche Awareness, Rope Rescue, and Swiftwater Rescue. KimSAR also provides in-house training on subjects such as map and compass, basic first aid, wilderness survival, rope work, winter rescue, and technology use in search and rescue.

In-house training also allows KimSAR to conduct the Ground Search and Rescue Course (GSAR). This is the basic training requirement for all KimSAR members and is a prerequisite for many of the advanced courses taught by the Justice Institute. The course includes approximately 90 hours of theory and 50 hours of practical training and requires significant effort from everyone involved to complete. The course is conducted periodically in-house with the help of a qualified GSAR instructor.

Teamwork, leadership, personal responsibility, and above all, safety, are highly emphasized. In-house training is not intended to replace EMBC-mandated coursework or prerequisites, but rather to introduce new members to the search and rescue environment and to help members practice and maintain the skills they must be proficient in.

Membership Guidelines

1. Joining Qualifications (resource status)

  • Must be at least 16 years of age; 19 years of age with proper training to operate an extrication unit or perform winter rescue.
  • Must have no criminal record and have a criminal record check every five (5) years.
  • Uphold the KimSAR code of conduct at all times.
  • Must attend six (6) consecutive meetings/training sessions as an orientation period.
  • Upon the decision of the Directors and or Training Officer, may be placed in Member-in-Training (MIT) status after completing the onboarding process.

2. Member in Training Status (after completion of trial period)

  • GSAR MITs are working toward becoming an active SAR member.  MITs are probationary but may be called out for operations if minimum operational requirements are satisfied.
  • Attend twenty-five percent (25%) of training sessions, twenty-five percent (25%) operational tasks, and must attend one public special event per year.
  • Register with EMBC as a Public Safety Lifeline Volunteer (PSLV).

3. Active Member Status

  • Must complete the GSAR course.
  • Must maintain an active role in the Search and Rescue group.
  • Must keep certificates and training current.
  • Non-attendance for three (3) consecutive months is grounds for being moved back to training status or resource status.
  • Only active members who have been with the society for a year or more are entitled to vote at Society meetings.