Photo: COSAR
COSAR’s current home at 4680 Old Vernon Road
No drinking water. A washroom that has been converted into a file storage facility. Not enough parking space. A non-central location.
The list of issues with the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue headquarters near Kelowna International Airport is long.
The volunteer organization gave a presentation in front of the Central Okanagan Regional Ward this week highlighting the need for a new home for a group that residents across the region rely on.
COSAR traced its roots back to 1954 as the oldest search and rescue group in the province. Around 50 unpaid members are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
This week’s report to the regional division indicated that a new building with eight bays would cost $ 2.9 million, excluding land costs.
COSAR says the RDCO understands the issues with the current location, but funding is a big problem.
“We looked at various SAR groups in British Columbia and found funding to be challenging for everyone,” said COSAR President Brad Trites.
“In recent years, several search and rescue teams across the province have received significant support from their communities to fund buildings to meet the growing need for SAR services due to the increased demand.”
“Support came from a variety of sources, including generous land leases, as in the case of Rossland SAR.”
“Other teams in the province, such as Nanaimo and Kamloops, have been supported by local philanthropists who have made significant donations to meet funding needs.”
“Our team takes care of everything, from technical rescue in the hinterland to the search for lost children and elderly people with dementia. Everyone in our community has the potential to benefit from the services of our team of highly qualified professional volunteers. “
It is assumed that COSAR will have to vacate its current hall at 4680 Old Vernon Road in seven years if the city-owned property is needed for the airport expansion.
But even if that clock wasn’t ticking, there are major flaws in the building that need to be addressed.
Due to the lack of office space, files are kept in a washroom, so that only a gender-neutral bathroom remains, which is insufficient for the gathering of all 50 members.
The meeting room is also too small, so that the group sometimes has to meet in their unheated vehicle parking space. The building’s water is not potable and there is no stove to boil water, so you need to bring bottled water.
Parking is tight, forcing members to use the adjacent dog park as an overflow, but this is often full. The building is also not completely burglar-proof, so security must come first when planning any new facility. Eventually, members report that the site is far from a central collection point for the area they serve.
COSAR is the third largest voluntary search and rescue organization in Canada and is expected to handle more than 100 sorties this year.
Photo: RDCO
Proposal for a new eight-bay COSAR hall
