Arrowsmith Search And Rescue

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Arrowsmith Search And Rescue Arrowsmith Search & Rescue (ASAR) is a 100% volunteer-run organization that assists the RCMP and Loca Arrowsmith. Jedidiah & Lasqueti Islands are also included.

What we do:
• Assist the RCMP, Fire Department, BC Ambulance Service and local authorities in rescuing lost and injured persons.
• Provide mutual aid support to other SAR teams on the Island and across the Province.
• Povide support to local communities during emergencies, evacuations and other critical response activities.
• Teach outdoor safety programs such as AdventureSmart, a national program encouraging Canadians to “get informed and go outdoors”.
• Participate in Project LifeSaver to quickly locate individuals with Alzheimer's, Autism, Downs Syndrome, or other cognitive disorders or developmental disabilities.

• Take part in local parades, festivals, and other community events. Our Area of Operation:
ASAR’s main area of operation runs the length of the coastline from Nanoose to Cook Creek, as far inland as Mt. Our Call Volume:
In an average year ASAR will attend approximately 35 to 45 calls locally. We will also respond to approximtely 10 calls from other SAR groups throughout BC requesting assistance in their areas of operation. Our Training & Certification:
We are a group of highly-skilled professional volunteers. Training is to standards set by Emergency Management BC (EMBC). This allows SAR volunteers to be covered by Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) when training and when responding to calls. The Justice Institute of British Columbia (JI) develops most of the training and course materials that meet the standards set for Search and Rescue Volunteers across the province of BC. Our Teams:
Ground Search and Rescue Team
Search Management Team
Rope Rescue Team
Swiftwater Rescue Team
Quad Team
Tracking Team
Support Team

🚨 EXCITING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP! 🚨🚙 Every Vehicle Sold Helps Support Local Search & Rescue! 💙Arrowsmith Search and Resc...
10/13/2026

🚨 EXCITING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP! 🚨

🚙 Every Vehicle Sold Helps Support Local Search & Rescue! 💙
Arrowsmith Search and Rescue is incredibly grateful to have been selected by Family Ford as their community charity partner for October and November!

For every new or used vehicle sold during these two months, Family Ford will generously donate $100 to Arrowsmith Search and Rescue!
As a volunteer organization, we rely on the generosity of our community to help support the training, equipment, and resources needed to respond when someone needs help.

Partnerships like this make a meaningful difference in helping our volunteers remain ready to serve our communities.

A huge THANK YOU to the entire Family Ford leadership team for choosing to support local search and rescue. We are fortunate to have businesses that recognize the importance of giving back!

🚗 Thinking about purchasing a vehicle? This is a wonderful opportunity to support a local business while helping your local search and rescue volunteers.

👏 Please join us in thanking Family Ford for their generosity, and help us spread the word by sharing this post!

🔗 Check out Family Ford’s announcement:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1K2FjzQC1V/

10/08/2026

🍂🌲 Fall Adventures Look a Little Different 🌲🍂

Cooler mornings, changing leaves, muddy trails, and earlier sunsets—fall is a beautiful time to explore Vancouver Island, but it also brings changing conditions to the backcountry. 🥾

Before heading out, take a few extra minutes to prepare:

🌦️ Check the forecast before you leave
🔦 Pack a headlamp—even for a daytime adventure
🧥 Bring warm, waterproof layers
🧭 Know your route and share your plans
🎒 Carry the essentials
⏰ Remember: daylight disappears quickly this time of year!

A sunny afternoon can turn into a cold, dark evening faster than expected. A little preparation can make all the difference. 💛

Get outside, enjoy the season, and stay safe!

VancouverIsland BackcountrySafety HikingSafety ExploreResponsibly StaySafeOutdoors BCSAR VolunteerSAR BePrepared

🌊🚨 Swift Water Demands Respect 🚨🌊Moving water is powerful, unpredictable, and can change conditions in seconds. What loo...
10/04/2026

🌊🚨 Swift Water Demands Respect 🚨🌊

Moving water is powerful, unpredictable, and can change conditions in seconds. What looks manageable from shore can quickly become a dangerous situation.

Swift water rescues require specialized training, equipment, communication, and teamwork. Our volunteers train to assess hazards, work safely around fast-moving water, and respond when someone is in trouble. 🛟💪

For the public, the safest rescue is the one that never needs to happen. ❤️

🌊 Never underestimate the strength of moving water
🥾 Stay back from slippery or unstable banks
🚫 Never attempt to cross flooded roads or fast-moving streams
🧭 Check conditions before heading out
⚠️ If conditions don’t feel safe, turn around

Water is stronger than it looks. Know your limits, make smart decisions, and stay AdventureSmart.

🚨 Ready Before the Call Comes In 🌲A Search and Rescue mission doesn’t begin when we arrive on scene. It begins long befo...
09/28/2026

🚨 Ready Before the Call Comes In 🌲

A Search and Rescue mission doesn’t begin when we arrive on scene. It begins long before that.

It’s the training nights. 🧭
The equipment checks. 🎒
The certifications. ⛑️
The practice scenarios. 🪢
And the countless volunteer hours spent preparing for the unexpected.

Our volunteers never know when the next call will come—or what conditions they’ll face when it does. That’s why being prepared is such an important part of what we do. 💪

When the call comes in, we’re not getting ready.

We’re already ready. ❤️

09/23/2026

When daylight fades, teamwork shines. 🚁🌙

Working in the dark adds another layer of complexity to search and rescue. Clear communication, trust, and coordination matter with every move on the ground and in the air.

Thank you to the dedicated volunteers and aviation partners who help make this work possible. 💛

Training doesn’t always happen on easy ground. 🌲🧭Our Arrowsmith Search & Rescue volunteers train in the same rugged terr...
09/19/2026

Training doesn’t always happen on easy ground. 🌲🧭

Our Arrowsmith Search & Rescue volunteers train in the same rugged terrain where real calls can take us — steep slopes, dense forest, fallen trees and challenging conditions.

Practicing communication, navigation, technical skills and teamwork in the field helps ensure our members are ready when the call comes in. Because when someone needs help, preparation matters.

🌅🔦 The Days Are Getting Shorter… Are You Prepared? 🔦🌲Summer may not be over just yet, but we’re already noticing those e...
09/14/2026

🌅🔦 The Days Are Getting Shorter… Are You Prepared? 🔦🌲

Summer may not be over just yet, but we’re already noticing those earlier sunsets! As daylight hours get shorter, it’s easier than you think for an afternoon adventure to turn into a hike back in the dark. 🌙🥾

Before heading out:
🔦 Always pack a headlamp or flashlight
🔋 Bring spare batteries or a backup light
🧭 Know your route before you leave
🕓 Give yourself plenty of time to return before dark
🧥 Pack an extra layer as evenings get cooler
📍 Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back

Don’t rely on your phone flashlight, it may be your most important tool for communication if something goes wrong. 📱

A little extra preparation can keep an unexpected change of plans from becoming an emergency. ❤️

Enjoy those beautiful late-summer adventures, stay safe, and stay adventure smart BC AdventureSmart !

09/08/2026

🚁 Training Takes Us to New Heights 🚁

When someone is injured or stranded in remote terrain, reaching them quickly and safely can be a challenge. That’s where helicopter operations can make an incredible difference.

Our Arrowsmith Search and Rescue volunteers regularly train alongside aviation professionals to practice aircraft safety, communication, equipment handling, patient transport, and technical rescue procedures. 🪢⛑️

Helicopter operations require precision, trust, and teamwork. There’s no room for guesswork—which is why practicing these skills again and again is so important. 💪

Every training day helps prepare our volunteers for the moment these skills are needed for real. 🚨🌲

Train together. Trust each other. Be ready.

☀️🌲 One More Long Weekend Adventure! 🌲☀️The September long weekend is here, and for many of us, it’s the perfect chance ...
09/05/2026

☀️🌲 One More Long Weekend Adventure! 🌲☀️

The September long weekend is here, and for many of us, it’s the perfect chance to squeeze in one more summer adventure! 🥾🏕️🚣

Whether you’re hitting the trails, heading to the lake, camping, or exploring somewhere new on Vancouver Island, take a few minutes to AdventureSmart before you go. 🧭

💧 Bring plenty of water
🎒 Pack the essentials
📍 Share your plans with someone
🌦️ Check the weather and conditions
🔦 Bring a light—even if you plan to be home before dark
📱 Remember that cell service isn’t guaranteed

Our Arrowsmith SAR volunteers will be ready if needed, but we’d much rather see everyone finish the weekend safely at home with some great stories to tell. ❤️🚨

Have a safe, fun and adventure-filled September long weekend!

09/05/2026

Parks Canada requested our assistance to get an injured hiker off the West Coast Trail. It was determined that a helicopter extraction would be the best option so we requested mutual aid from Alberni Valley/Arrowsmith Regional helicopter team. The subject was air lifted out and transfered to the awaiting ambulance.

Thank you to Parks Canada, Alberni Valley Rescue Squad, Arrowsmith SAR and BCEHS to help this injured hiker.

Speedy recovery to the subject and we are hoping this was near the end of your hike.

Photo credit to Alberni Valley Rescue Squad

Address

1050 Ravensbourne Lane
Qualicum Beach, BC
V9K1N1

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