Cowichan Search and Rescue is partnering with Duncan Daybreak Rotary Club to launch a major fundraising initiative aimed at building a spacious new $2.5-million, purpose-designed facility to fulfill the volunteer SAR group’s needs for years to come.
The push toward a new hall for the group, which responds to 50-60 call-outs annually and experienced its busiest year ever in 2024 with 79 calls, was years in the making, but is moving forward following a recent Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this spring with the Cowichan Valley Regional District to provide land for CSAR’s new home.
CSAR has occupied a two-bay facility with a classroom at the CVRD’s Bings Creek Recycling & Waste Management Centre for nearly 15 years, but outgrew the space years ago as the non-profit society added vehicles and equipment to improve its response capabilities and best serve the Cowichan Valley.
“We’ve been working toward this moment for a long time and it’s exciting to finally be here,” said Jamie Tudway-Cains, CSAR's past-president.
“The next step is to build public awareness for what we’re doing and really start pushing fundraising. We know this project is sorely needed for our group, but also know we have to raise a lot of money to complete it; that is where we’ll lean on Rotary for its support and expertise.”
Rotary Club of Duncan Daybreak members began meeting informally with CSAR more than a year ago, and are gathering support from other Rotary clubs around the valley and beyond.
While this initiative will be a focus for Rotarians, it will fit in with all the many fundraising efforts and projects with which they’re involved.
The two volunteer organizations also recently met with the Rotary District Governor, who represents an area encompassing the Pacific Northwest, and earned his support.
“We met with SAR and toured their current space a number of times and saw how squeezed in they are,” said Arnie May, Duncan Daybreak president.
“We’ve got a lot of excitement and energy to bring to this. Our neighbouring clubs are on board and we had the Rotary District governor up recently for a tour as well, so we’re getting the word out far and wide to build support.”
The cost of new $2.5-million hall will include developing plans, site preparation, construction and finishing, and will likely take several years to complete.
CSAR already has a $280,000 fund earmarked for the project, and will be looking for matching grants from higher levels of government.
Once fundraising gets going, Rotary also has the ability to apply for matching grants from Rotary International.
The effort will also welcome in-kind donations of services from Cowichan Valley businesses.
“We think this is something the community can and will get excited to help out with,” said Trevor Paterson, CSAR president.
“Getting a new hall to properly house and maintain all the vehicles and equipment and be immediately ready to roll at all times will make a big difference.”
The MOU signed with the CVRD will provide CSAR with the ability to develop a permanent facility to house its equipment, some of which is currently stored outside or in sea cans, as well as conduct training and have parking for up to 60 vehicles on roughly 1.8 acres at the Bings Creek site.
While the exact location of a new CSAR facility has not yet been identified, the CVRD’s development planning work for the entire Bings Creek facility is underway and anticipated to conclude this June.
