Lions Bay Search and Rescue

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about how search and rescue works in British Columbia, how Lions Bay Search and Rescue responds, and what to expect if you ever need help in the backcountry.

In British Columbia, search and rescue is divided into three major categories:

  • Air
  • Marine
  • Ground and Inland Waters

Air and marine searches are the responsibility of the Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard, while ground and inland water searches outside of national parks are the responsibility of the RCMP. Search and rescue groups such as Lions Bay Search and Rescue are called out by the RCMP to provide personnel and equipment for these types of searches.

Details on RCMP policy for search and rescue are available on the RCMP website.

Searches for missing persons are initiated by police. Once a missing persons report is received, police will decide whether to call out a search and rescue team. The call is made to the team Duty Officer, who then sends out a page to team members. Members call in to indicate their availability and then report to search headquarters.

In Canada, searches are conducted by volunteers and costs are covered by the Provincial Emergency Program.

No. Members of Lions Bay Search and Rescue are unpaid volunteers who take time away from work and their personal lives to respond to searches and rescues.

The team is funded through donations from companies and individuals. The Provincial Emergency Program covers search expenses and lost equipment, but all equipment must first be purchased by the team or by individual members.

To support the team, please visit our donation page.

In 2004, there were 933 searches involving 1,193 lost persons. Of those, 1,032 people were rescued alive. A detailed breakdown of incidents can be found on the Provincial Emergency Program incident summaries website.

There are approximately 4,700 volunteers in British Columbia, organized into 93 provincial teams and 7 Initial Response Teams (IRTs).

These teams support:

  • Police searching for lost persons
  • BC Ambulance Service when specialized skills and equipment are needed to transport injured persons
  • The Coroners Service when specialized skills and equipment are needed for recovery
  • The Department of National Defence and Canadian Coast Guard in their air and marine search and rescue mandate
  • Local governments during civil emergencies

These groups are coordinated and maintained by the Provincial Emergency Program.

More information can be found through the BC Search and Rescue Association.

What to Expect When You Call for Help

If you have cell reception, call 911. Emergency dispatch will route your call to the appropriate requesting agency—most commonly the RCMP for missing persons or BC Ambulance Service for injuries. As the requesting agency, they will initiate a search and rescue callout.

Once you’ve made contact, stay where you are whenever possible. Dispatch or SAR teams may use your phone or an activated SOS device, such as an inReach, to determine your GPS location. Rescue response takes time, and you should be prepared to remain in place for three to five hours or longer while teams are mobilized and travel to your location. Stay warm, shelter in place, conserve energy, and know that help is on the way.

In the Lions Bay area, continuing downhill travel can be extremely dangerous. Steep drainages and creeks can quickly become impassable.

If a helicopter response is required, crews may conduct an initial reconnaissance flight to assess terrain and plan a safe extraction. To help rescuers locate you, make yourself visible by wearing bright colours, waving your arms, and using a headlamp or light if conditions allow. Dark or neutral clothing such as gray, black, or green can be difficult to see beneath dense West Coast forest canopy.

Helicopters cannot operate safely in all weather conditions, including low cloud or poor visibility. If the aircraft departs after an initial pass, do not panic—this often means crews are assessing conditions or developing an extraction plan. In some cases, ground teams will be deployed as close as possible and continue to you on foot.