Arrowsmith Search And Rescue
Share
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
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. 💛
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.
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 !
🚁 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.
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
🌙🔦 Rescue Doesn’t Stop When the Sun Goes Down.
When a call comes in after dark, the challenges change but our mission doesn’t.
Limited visibility, steep terrain, changing temperatures, and difficult navigation can make nighttime rescues especially demanding. That’s why our volunteers train for operations after dark, building the skills, communication, and teamwork needed to respond safely and effectively. 🧭🪢
With headlamps on and gear ready, our team continues working until the job is done. 🚨🌲
Because emergencies don’t follow a schedule and neither does Search and Rescue. ❤️
RescueReady
08/17/2026
🌲🌙 When the Trail Gets Tough, We Keep Going. 🚨
Search and Rescue doesn’t always happen on an easy trail or during daylight hours.
Steep slopes, rocky terrain, dense forest, fading light… these are the conditions our volunteers train for. 🧗♂️🔦
Technical rescues require teamwork, specialized equipment, careful communication, and the ability to adapt to whatever the terrain throws our way. Every member has a role, and every movement matters when safely reaching and evacuating someone in need. 🪢⛑️
Day or night, our volunteers are prepared to go where they’re needed. ❤️
Our mission remains the same: bringing the lost and injured home.
08/11/2026
🚁 When the call comes, preparation matters.
Search and rescue doesn’t always happen on solid ground. From steep terrain to remote locations, our members train for the moments when reaching someone safely requires a different approach.
Helicopter training gives our team the opportunity to practice the skills, communication, and coordination needed to work safely in and around aircraft — because in a real rescue, every movement matters.
It takes trust. It takes teamwork. And it takes hours of training behind the scenes to be ready when someone needs us most.
Train hard. Work together. Be ready.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Category
Address
1050 Ravensbourne Lane
Qualicum Beach, BC
V9K1N1