Its members often drop whatever they are doing to head out into dangerous terrain to try and save someone they don’t know and now the oldest search and rescue team in the province is looking for help to continue those efforts.
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Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) is holding a recruitment drive on Thursday.
The drive, taking place at 7 p.m. at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus in room H115, comes as the 62-year-old search and rescue organization is in desperate need for volunteers.
“This is the perfect opportunity for anyone interested in helping their community and wants to make a big difference,” COSAR president Ephraim Nowak said.
The event is also a public information session, giving anyone in the community a chance to learn more about COSAR and what its members do.
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COSAR currently has 15 active members, according to Nowak, and its looking to double the team size by recruiting 15 more.
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“It’s definitely a lot of stress on the members that are currently active, so hopefully we can alleviate that and make things a little more sustainable in the long run,” Nowak said.
Its members are called on about 50 tasks per year, which is a challenge with only 15 members and, according to Nowak, COSAR hasn’t added any new members in three-and-a-half years.
“A lot of the members that are active right now go on every single call.”
Nowak said any interested candidates don’t require any experience or qualifications, just a passion for helping others; having back country skills and enjoying team work are helpful assets.
“Each team member on our team is contributing to saving lives,” Nowak said.
The first step in training, which is 100 per cent funded by COSAR, is a standardized ground search and rescue training course which begins in January.
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A member of the team can expect to spend between 200 and 300 hours with the SAR team in their first year on things such as training, community service, maintenance and going out on calls, according to Nowak.
The time commitment for COSAR volunteers ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand hours per year.
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It may seem like a lot of time, but the work, Nowak said, is very rewarding.
“It’s absolutely amazing when you can bring someone home to their loved ones. The feeling is incredible.”
If you aren’t able to attend the recruitment drive on Thursday, COSAR is accepting applications, which are available online, until November 30.
~ With files from Lauren Pullen
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