BC is providing six-million-dollars a year to fund search-and-rescue teams across the province, and Prince George Search and Rescue says the funding gives it a sense of certainty for the future.
The money, to begin in 2022, will give the teams more financial stability as they deal with COVID-19 precautions and a sharp jump in the number of calls.
“What this means for us is sustainable funding, This isn’t necessarily new money for any teams, a lot of this money has been accessible through fundraising, through grants, or other government packages,” said Dale Bull, Search Manager for Prince George Search and Rescue.
“So what this means now, instead of having to fundraise or fill out grant applications for just day-to-day operations, we know that money is there to keep our doors open, to keep our lights on,” Bull said.
The security will allow Prince George Search and Rescue to focus resources on longer-term projects.
“This will give us the ability to plan for the future a lot better, and be able to predict how the funds are coming in and how they can be spent,” he added.
Since January 2020, ground search and rescue volunteers have responded to more than 700 calls throughout the province.