Two months into the new year, Nicola Valley Search and Rescue (NVSAR) teams have already been called out four times — all within a one-week period in January — including the extensive search for missing cowboy.

The search for Ben Tyner was not their first rodeo with missing person missions, as they helped neighbouring crews with two searches last year, including one for Ryan Shtuka in Sun Peaks.

Other call-outs from 2018 included assisting in the rescue of a local cowboy who was injured in July, and locating two missing hunters near Cache Creek in October.

Teams were called twice in 2018 to help with evacuations —  once for a flooding incident in Princeton and once for a fire near Spences Bridge.

NVSAR responded to a total of 16 tasks in 2018, which is consistent with their yearly average of 15 to 20.

Of the 16 tasks, five were to help neighbouring SAR teams in Kamloops, Princeton and the Central Okanagan with their missions.

Society seeking stable government funding

To support their ongoing efforts to promote public safety, NVSAR manager Nathan Brigden told the Herald the organization has their sights set on sustainable funding from the government of B.C.

It’s been three years since the province pledged $15 million to the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association (BCSAR). With those dollars dwindling, the organization is left searching for fresh funds.

However, details of the provincial budget unveiled this week included no such promises for search and rescue teams.

“We are still hopeful that something will be announced before the new fiscal year starts on April 1, but we were hoping to hear something in the budget,” Brigden said.

While the $15 million from the provincial government was shared among the eighty search and rescue teams in the province, Brigden said the funds the local chapter received allowed them to purchase new ropes, a pickup truck and free up time and energy that would be otherwise be spent on fundraising.

“Prior to that all of of our funding came through grant applications and other fundraising,” Brigden said. “So having that money available allowed our members, who are all volunteers, to focus on search and rescue, which is why we got into it — not to write grants.”

A lack of stable funding makes long-term planning difficult for the organization as well.

“The grants are not guaranteed, it is time-consuming for us to apply for them, but it is also hard to plan for equipment or bigger purchases,” Brigden said.

Finally, Brigden said a steady inflow of dollars is necessary to support an important aspect of the BCSAR focused on the well-being of the volunteers and their families.

“We are all in search and rescue because we care, and that means we take things home with us.” – NVSAR manager Nathan Brigden

The critical incident stress management program provides peer support and follow-up services for volunteers after critical incidents.

“We are all in search and rescue because we care, and that means we take things home with us,” Brigden said. “Sometimes we need help, and this program has been very helpful.”

NVSAR is currently seeking new members. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2019, and those interested should email [email protected].