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After a record year, COSAR seeks new members

COSAR is recruiting new applicants after a record year

  • COSAR hits record of rescues
  • There have been 86 tasks this year
  • They’re recruiting new members until Oct. 31

Two rescues in Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park during the first week of October pushed 2021 to be the busiest Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) has seen in their 67-year history.

The first call was to help a cyclist on the Kettle Valley Railway who suffered a suspected heart attack. The second came less than two hours later to help an injured adventure racer on the Crawford DH trail.

Penticton’s Search and Rescue helicopter transported the second man out of the area.

The calls marked the 85 and 86 of the year, leading COSAR to start recruiting new members until Oct. 31.

“We are looking for people with outdoor skills, but also with availability,” COSAR president Brad Trites said. “We expect a minimum of 200 hours of volunteer time annually and many members give five or six times that.”

According to a media release, COSAR volunteered over 20,000 hours last year. An open house in October will be followed by short-listing interviews, reference checks, and then 90 hours of basic training.

COSAR is the oldest search and rescue organization of its kind in British Columbia, and currently have 51 members.

More details and the application can be found on their website.

Published 2021-10-04 by Jordan Brenda

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