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October 17, 2021 - 2:30 PM
The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team has responded to a record number of calls this year so they decided to attract more members with a recruitment campaign.
Normally, the volunteer rescue organization would hold a recruitment campaign every two years but since the group expects to see the trend with a high number of calls continue, they’ve moved it to this year as opposed to 2022, said Ed Henczel, who handles communications with the group.
“We’re at 90 tasks this year, so we usually get about 65, so we’re (taking on) 50% more tasks than normal this year and that’s starting to take a bit of a toll on the long-term members, both in the field and on the administrative search and rescue side of things,” he said.
“We’re trying to be proactive.”
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The core group of people that handle most of the work are starting to look for help, he said.
They’ve already received 20 applications through their website and are hoping to find 15 new members.
Applications will be accepted until Oct. 31 and an open house will be held Oct. 20 at the team’s hall on Old Vernon Road. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with presentations at 7, he said.
The rescue group is also in need of a larger hall, as the current hall is no longer meeting the needs of the organization’s 50 members.
Last month, the organization presented to the Regional District of Central Okanagan, saying they were in dire need of a new hall as more equipment and more members means the hall is too small, Henzcel said.
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“We have one bathroom for (50) members, try to imagine what that’s like,” he said. “You can’t drink the water.”
The location is also not central to the group’s coverage area, he said.
“People are suffering longer if they’re injured so it’d be nice to get something closer.”
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