Kitimat Search and Rescue
1101 Kingfisher Ave V8C 2N4 Kitimat, BC, Canada

Hey Kitimat. We are disappointed that because of COVID-19, we weren’t able to host our annual Banff Mountain Film Festival fundraiser. However you can still watch all of the 2019-2020 films online! The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is going Virtual! This is your last chance to watch our 2019/2020 films... all from the comforts of your own home. ... Enjoy three carefully curated programs of the best outdoor films, available for online rental from September 16 - October 24. Rentals cost $15USD/individual program or $40USD for the bundle of all three programs. The individual programs have a 3 day rental period; the packaged bundle will have a 7 day rental period (all starting immediately upon viewing). Film programs will be taken down at the end of the rental period - October 24 These online programs are available in Canada and the USA only. Please check in with your International tour host for more details on their screening options. https://www.banffcentre.ca/virtual-world-tour

Ready for Service!

Very Proud! Award from Mayor and Council

Press Release- Kitimat Search and Rescue July 22/20 Around 3:35 am this morning, Kitimat SAR was tasked by the RCMP to search for one presumed missing person when a vehicle crashed after leaving the road and subsequently caught fire off the Dyke Road where it intersects with the Giant Spruce Road. The two occupants managed to get out and made their own way to the Kitimat Hospital with notable injuries.... Six KSAR members searched both ditches and surrounding treed areas along the Dyke Road with no results. After a thorough search of the area KSAR was stood down at 7:30 am. Later it was determined that there wasn't a third occupant in the vehicle.

KSAR is extremely pleased with the recent announcement of long term funding to all 79 SAR groups in BC! https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca//n/2020PSSG0038-001334.htm

In the late afternoon of July 10, 2020, Kitimat SAR was called by the RCMP regarding a unoccupied kayak spotted in some logs on the Kitimat River just below Cablecar. Kitimat SAR responded with six members. Three KSAR members flew the Kitimat River by helicopter in an attempt to spot anyone. Two KSAR members accompanied two members of the Kitimat Hatchery Staff on their jet boat and travelled to the scene and searched as far upstream as the Wedeene River.... After not finding anyone KSAR was stood down at 19:20. It was later discovered that after seeing a social media posting regarding the abandoned kayak, the owner called the RCMP. He told them about 2 weeks ago he and two buddies were kayaking the river and he flipped the kayak. and it ended up going under a log jam. KSAR would like to thank the Kitimat Hatchery Staff for their assistance in this call. Remember to please wear your PFD when drifting or paddling on the Kitimat River.

A big thank you to "No Bun Intended" for raising $246 for KSAR today! We really appreciate this local business with great food for supporting us. https://www.facebook.com//a.374395143291/658532368210756/

https://www.northernsentinel.com//new-kitimat-river-safet/

Today has been 1 year since Nick Hopwood tragically lost his life on the Kitimat River. There have been too many drownings on this river. Kitimat Search and Rescue has partnered with a couple of the local guides to make a statement that it's time to change! Let's all advocate to change the culture of not wearing a PFD when on the river and help eliminate needless tragedies such as this.

We are happy to help out our Fellow SAR members up the road. They are on their final push to get the new TSAR hall built.

Below is part of a letter recently sent to a member of Kitimat Search and Rescue by Ashleigh Hopwood, the sister of Nick Hopwood who tragically died while fishing on the Kitimat River on June 8, 2019. The decisions we make on the Kitimat River not only effect ourselves. If you leave a comment, please be respectful of the memory of Nick and his family. ...Continue reading

Press Release 04/23/2020 Kitimat Search and Rescue At approximately 6:20 pm, Kitimat Search and Rescue was tasked by the Kitimat RCMP in locating two lost hikers around the Coho Flats Trail system. The hikers had inadvertently gone off trail and became disorientated.... Three KSAR members responded to the task and made initial contact with the two by cell phone. The hikers wanted to keep moving but were asked to stay put while our search team looked for them. The hikers were found in good condition around 7:35 pm. They were returned to the golf course area around 8:40 pm. The hikers did everything right including being well prepared, carrying fully charged cell phones and leaving a pre-plan with their expected return time with someone responsible. For further information contact: Mike Stekelenburg Kitimat SAR Search Manager 250 632-1318

Northwest SAR Managers including KSAR participating in a video conference and discussing how to deal with responding to calls during the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Please participate in low risk outdoor activities close to home. Now isn't the time to get lost or hurt.

Here are some great online films on behalf of the Banff Centre! https://www.banffcentre.ca/film-fest-at-home

Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue would like to make citizens aware of the following: During this COVID-19 crisis many people will be taking advantage of the outdoors for their physical and mental health. KSAR encourages those enjoying what the outdoors has to offer, to do so with low risk activities. Our response times in dealing with search or rescue tasks will be slower due to the precautions we will need to take to conduct a first responder risk analysis to protect our mem...bers and teams. The more complex and isolated the outdoor activity, the more complex and time consuming our response plan will be. Please leave a detailed preplan of your activities with somebody trustworthy. List your whereabouts and expected time of return and instructions of when to call the 911 if you don’t return on time. Let’s always be proactive and responsible with our outdoor activities. This even more now when we need to take extra precautions before responding to emergencies in the Kitimat and Kitamaat Village communities. Kitimat Search and Rescue