Image: City of Chilliwack / Buoyed by a $1 million funding commitment from city leaders, Chilliwack Search and Rescue officially broke ground Tuesday morning (Jan. 16) on its new rescue hall, a project that will take roughly 10 months and could be complete before the end of 2024. The B.C. government announced Wednesday (April 24) that it will contribute $250,000 towards the project through Community Gaming Grants.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Search and Rescue

B.C. govt. contributes quarter-million to help Chilliwack Search and Rescue with new facility

Apr 24, 2024 | 11:13 AM

CHILLIWACK — Three months after Chilliwack Search and Rescue broke ground on its new facility thanks to a $1 million funding commitment from the City of Chilliwack, the provincial government will pitch in likewise to help get the facility off the ground.

The B.C. government announced Wednesday morning (Apr. 24) that $5.2 million in Community Gaming Grants will be shared among 62 organizations for capital projects intended to improve the quality of life in B.C. communities. Twenty-three new capital project grants were awarded throughout the Lower Mainland and southwestern B.C. for a total of more than $2 million, of which $250,000 has been earmarked for a larger training and storage facility for Chilliwack Search and Rescue.

Buoyed by a $1 million funding commitment from city leaders, Chilliwack Search and Rescue officially broke ground on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 on its new rescue hall, a project that will take roughly 10 months and could be complete before the end of 2024.

“Today, Mayor Popove and Councillors Mercer, Westeringh, and Shields joined members from Chilliwack Search and Rescue to break ground on their new building! The City of Chilliwack is pleased to contribute $1 million towards this project,” the City of Chilliwack wrote on Facebook in January.

According to a news release issued on January 11, Chilliwack SAR invited business sponsors and city officials to attend a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning, January 16 as construction commences after two months of demolition and ground work.

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“This vital project will drastically improve the operational capacity of BC’s 3rd busiest SAR team by offering significantly more space for a growing fleet of vehicles and rescue equipment, along with providing training space for the team of approximately 40 dedicated volunteers,” Chilliwack SAR wrote in a news release.

Chilliwack SAR personnel say the building itself at 46195 Fifth Avenue has been designed to remain functional in the event of a natural disaster and ensures that Chilliwack residents can depend upon the assistance of a highly trained, deeply skilled search and rescue response for the foreseeable future.

“The team has secured and set up a temporary facility that provides the necessities for the continued operation of SAR services during the construction phase that is expected to last 10 months,” Chilliwack SAR said. “The team has been overwhelmed by the support from the local community, but is still actively fundraising and hoping for more local businesses to step up to help close the remaining funding gap.”