Vital funding for SAR organizations

by Contributed - Dec 8, 2009 / 3:30 pm CASTANET:

Volunteer Search and Rescue organizations in the North Okanagan will benefit from Community Gaming Grants. The government money, announced Tuesday, will help with supply upgrades, the purchase of new equipment and provide advanced training for the Shuswap SAR and the Vernon SAR. Shuswap Volunteer Search & Rescue Society will get $72,279 to purchase new equipment and provide advanced training. The Vernon Search and Rescue Group Society will be getting $35,000 to help with supply upgrades and training. “Successful rescues often come down to quick response times,” says George Abbott, Shuswap MLA. “This funding will help improve equipment, increase training and provide public information which will ultimately keep our back-country safer.” He says SVSARS plans to use the funding to purchase two snowmobiles, four ATVs and provide in-depth avalanche training to its volunteers. “This funding is essential to non-profit organizations like VSAR,” says Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster. “The response time can mean the difference between life and death. Outdoor recreation is a big part of our lives and it’s a comfort knowing that there are highly trained people to call should anything happen, particularly in the back-country.” Vernon Search & Rescue covers more than 7,890 square kilometres of steep mountainsides, waterways and dense forests in the North Okanagan regional district.
Link: Vernon SAR website
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A link to the interim report that details the 2009/10 grants from community gaming grant program can be found here:

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Vernon's Grants can be found in table above. (Click to enlarge)