Vernon Search and Rescue (VSAR) is made up of dedicated volunteers who are there when people need them most, and now, they're looking for more people to join the team.
VSAR has started its membership drive for 2025 and will be accepting applications for new members from March 3 to 31.
To support its recruitment push, VSAR will be hosting a two-hour recruitment information open house at its facility at 5150 Silver Star Road in Vernon on March 12. Specific times will be announced at a later date as there will be multiple sessions held on that day.
While attending the open house is not a requirement to join the team, interested people are encouraged to come out.
"This is the only opportunity you will have to find out detailed information on the requirements, training process, expectations, and how our specialty teams operate. This will also be an opportunity to ask questions," VSAR said on its website.
People can enrol for the open house by sending a request to recruiting@vernonsar.ca. Once the request has been received, VSAR will provide people with a time slot for their session. Only those who have registered to attend will be admitted.
Space is limited, so people are encouraged to reserve their spot in the open house early.
VSAR currently has 65 members, all of whom are volunteers. The search and rescue team averages 60 calls and puts in over 10,000 volunteer hours each year.
Established in 1960, VSAR is comprised of several teams, including ground search and rescue, snowmobile, rope, swiftwater, bike and boat teams.
Requirements for people interested in joining VSAR are living in the North Okanagan; an ability to commit ot coming to events, training and tasks; a fitness level that meets operational requirements; ability to respond to the search hall quickly once a call has come in; and completion of the ground search and rescue course and exams, training that is mandatory and free to all people who have been accepted to join VSAR.
For more information, visit vernonsar.ca.
