Prince George Search and Rescue

We are saddened to hear of the loss of Mike. Our thoughts are with his family and team members in this challenging time.

🎉 **Thank You for an Incredible Annual SARBQ!** 🎉

What a day to celebrate our Prince George Search and Rescue family! 🧡

We are endlessly grateful for the generosity of our sponsors, whose support keeps PGSAR running and ready to respond when our community needs us most.

🎓 **Welcoming New Members**
We proudly welcomed our newest members into the PGSAR family, freshly certified through JIBC Ground Search and Rescue training this Spring. Welcome aboard - we are so glad to have you!

🏅 **Celebrating Milestones**
We honoured members marking incredible service milestones this year: 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of dedication, and an outstanding member Dave Merritt celebrating 35 years of service to our community. Thank you for your unwavering commitment!

⏱️ **5,400+ Volunteer Hours**
This year alone, our members contributed roughly **5,400 volunteer hours** equivalent to six full-time employees... all given freely to keep our community safe.

❤️ **A Thank You to Our Families**
Behind every search, rescue, and training session are the families and loved ones who support our members through missed birthdays, family events, and countless evenings and weekends at home alone while our members are out on task. Today was also about celebrating YOU. Thank you for your patience, sacrifice, and unwavering support.

🙏 **Thank You to Our Sponsors**
This event would not be possible without the generosity of:

Cycle North Powersports • overhang.pg •woodhouseranch • thecurrenthair • cycle.logic• Rolling Mix Concrete! • Canadian Tire • Central Builders • Interior Offroad • L&M engineering • EDI • Home Depot • Access Engineering Consultants Ltd. • nancyospg • thedudleypg • Betulla Burning • deckedoutpatio • Gary Young Agencies • corlanesportinggoods.pg • Mothus Financial • Anchors Seafood • Carrier Lumber Ltd • Andres Electronics • eswildlifephotoimages • mulinokitchen

Your support means the world to our volunteers and the people we serve. Thank you for standing behind PGSAR! 🏔️🔍

PGSAR has assisted Quesnel Search & Rescue with several rescues on the Bowron Lakes canoe circuit this week!

It's been a busy start to the week for PGSAR — 3 tasks in 3 days! 🚁🔍🛶**

**Task 1 | Injured Hiker — Deserters Creek Area**
On Sunday, PGSAR provided mutual aid to Quesnel SAR, deploying a helicopter-based team to assist a hiker experiencing heat exhaustion near Deserters Creek. Through the joint efforts of both teams, the subject was successfully rescued. We also want to commend the hiker and their party for having the means to call for help early! That decision made all the difference. ✅

**Task 2 | Missing Child — St. Marie Lakes**
PGSAR was called to assist in the search for a missing child near St. Marie Lakes on Monday night. Our members mobilized and responded to the area, and we are thrilled to report that RCMP located the child quickly and they were reunited safely with their family. This is always the outcome we hope for. ❤️

**Task 3 | Stranded Paddlers — Isaac River, Bowron Lakes Park**
We again partnered with Quesnel SAR, this time assisting two stranded paddlers on the Isaac River in Bowron Lake Provincial Park. Our CDFL team responded to support the rescue. We want to recognize the subjects for making smart decisions after capsizing their boats - self-rescuing to separate islands and rocks and waiting for help, rather than attempting to swim or travel further on the river. 👏

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Three very different calls. Three successful outcomes. A huge thank you to our members who responded this week and their families, and to our partners at Quesnel SAR for the continued collaboration. Stay safe out there, everyone. 🙏

Thanks to all our Partner agencies who made this task successful.

🚨 Meet Dave Merritt — our expert guest for the June 8 webinar!

Dave has been a dedicated member of Prince George Search and Rescue since 1991, bringing 35 years of SAR experience, leadership, teaching, mentoring, and real-world rescue knowledge to the table.

From SAR management and large-scale training exercises to winter response, rope rescue, avalanche terrain safety, and 20 years with BC Cave Rescue, Dave has spent decades helping volunteers be “ready to go” when the call comes in.

Join us on June 8 to learn from Dave as he shares practical insight on:

• Group dynamics in an emergency
• Managing the scene while waiting for SAR
• Supporting safety, communication, and decision-making
• What outdoor enthusiasts can do before help arrives

If you spend time outdoors, this is a great opportunity to learn from someone who has dedicated his life to public safety, community service, and helping others.

Don’t miss it! 🏔️ 🎒 Sign up here:
https://bcsara.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U_S6jpj0RzON8RHOfLj1qA #/registration

Blue skies and the smiles of dedicated volunteers marked Saturday's training event for PGSAR with Yellowhead Helicopters - Pr George Ops Centre. 25 members participated in yearly Hover Entry/Exit practice, that allows us to quickly access remote terrain where a helicopter is unable to fully land and shut off. A subset of volunteers then shifted into gear for practicing our Class D Fixed Line skills, a highly technical type of operation in which personnel are inserted in and out of challenging terrain on the end of a line to rescue a subject. The last part of the day found our volunteers practicing with our Recco Advanced Rescue Technology unit which dangles below a helicopter for search purposes.

PGSAR was tasked yesterday, May 24th by BCEHS to respond to an injured hiker on the Teapot Mountain trail. PGSAR located, provided first aid, and transported the injured subject with a stretcher to BC Ambulance.
We applaud the hiker’s party for having the ability to call for help in a wilderness area.