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By LeRae Haynes 

The South Cariboo Search and Rescue Society has applied for, and will receive funding from Community Gaming Grants from the Province. A total of $25,000 will go to the Society, money which President of the Executive James Seeley said will be used for equipment, training and operation costs.  

“We’ve traditionally applied for this to help with our operational costs,” he explained. “We use it to provide heat and light to our building, provide insurance for our equipment and vehicles, batteries and fuel for our Search and Rescue truck.”  

James has been President of the South Cariboo Search and Rescue Society for four years and said that he has a fairly good understanding of their finances---what they need and what they have. “The money is also used for training. We have the ability to train in-house for certain aspects, but we have to send members away or hire certified instructors to come in for things like certified avalanche response,” he continued. “Every year our committee puts our wish lists together for operations and training and hits the most important things.” 

The volunteer members of the South Cariboo Search and Rescue team are evaluated and certified to high provincial standards, allowing them to assist teams in other areas in BC when needed. “We just did a white water/swift water rescue training course and we bring in instructors for ice rescue,” he said. “This month we’re running an ice rescue program to certify 10 more members—we practicing mock rescue on Horse Lake.” 

He said that good equipment is both necessary and expensive. “Our technical water vests, for example, aren’t just floating devices—they’re $350 each. To outfit one member of our team for white water rescue is $1,500. 

“We have rigid and technical standards for our equipment. We buy our own personal gear and nobody gets reimbursed: the money we just received goes for the whole team,” he said. 

“We continually look at what it takes to get our members trained for these programs. When we respond to emergencies, we have to go out there knowing that our people are certified and equipped properly.” 

For more information, go to South Cariboo Search & Rescue Society.