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Search and rescue volunteers

Last updated on April 14, 2025

Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) volunteers are registered public safety lifeline volunteers (PSLV) who belong to an approved GSAR group. In B.C., search and rescue operations are carried out by a network of GSAR groups supported by over 2,500 volunteers. These dedicated individuals work in often treacherous conditions to perform search and rescue missions whenever requested, day or night, throughout the entire year.

The Province supports search and rescue through:

  • expense reimbursement in support of deployment
  • providing workers' compensation and liability coverage during training and operations
  • co-developing standard operating guidelines
  • co-developing the GSAR safety program
  • developing supporting policy and procedures
  • training opportunities
  • funding distributed through the BC Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA)

What volunteers do

Volunteers trained in search and rescue techniques may be called upon to assist in searching for and/or rescuing lost or missing people, or people in distress, in backcountry and urban environments. Specialized equipment or capabilities such as swiftwater rescue and helicopter longline may be required to access and transport people.

Volunteers may assist police, B.C. Emergency Health Services, and other requesting agencies. They also support their communities during emergencies by distributing alert and order information during evacuations.

How to join

The B.C. government doesn't directly recruit volunteers. Volunteers are recruited and organized in groups at a community level. BCSARA represents these volunteer groups in B.C. and local GSAR groups are listed on their website. 

To become a search and rescue volunteer:

  1. Find your local search and rescue group.
  2. Speak directly with them to find out if they are recruiting and what skill sets they require.

Training

GSAR groups apply for an annual task training number prior to April 1 each year. This provides liability and worker’s compensation coverage during training activities.

If regional or technical training involves more than one GSAR group, or isn’t part of regular training, the GSAR group requesting the training must apply for a separate task number.  

Volunteers participate in training on a regular basis. Some may also participate in training through the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC) or other approved training providers, with their GSAR group approval.

Recognition

Volunteers are incredibly important to the search and rescue program, and we want to recognize their efforts. There are a few different ways that we are involved in volunteer recognition.

Volunteer resources

The search and rescue volunteer program is administered through a series of policies, procedures and other documents that directs the practice and use of GSAR groups and volunteers. These have been categorized in the following list for ease of use.​

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Code of conduct

Volunteers have a high level of responsibility and accountability while performing their duties. The code of conduct documents outline the expectations, responsibilities and reporting process for registered volunteers. 

 

Public Safety Lifeline Volunteer registration and membership

 

Health and safety

Workers compensation coverage

Liability coverage provided by Province

Critical incident stress management

GSAR volunteers are exposed to events that have the potential to create a significant and strong physiological response. Critical incident stress is a common reaction to abnormal events. The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program delivers a variety of services to help search and rescue volunteers deal with critical incident stress.

 

Administration and reimbursement

Tasks - general

Equipment Repair/Replacement 

Expense Reimbursement and Allowance Rate 

 

Operations

General

Helicopter Rescue

Winter response

The Winter Response policy is in place to ensure the safety of GSAR responders while operating in a winter environment terrain that has the potential for avalanche risk.

Body recovery

When requested, GSAR volunteers may conduct body recoveries on behalf of the BC Coroners Service. This policy outlines the conditions and responsibilities of the volunteers while responding to such a request.

Red lights and sirens

Search and rescue night vision imaging systems (NVIS)

 The search and rescue night vision imaging systems is a pilot project. This is the supporting policy.

 

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