Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / The future headquarters of Chilliwack Search and Rescue, under construction. A representative of Chilliwack Search and Rescue told Chilliwack City Council members Tuesday (June 18) that the non-profit organization is working diligently to address a $750,000 shortfall as it builds its new facility on Fifth Avenue, east of Young Road, in an industrial area of Chilliwack.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Search and Rescue

Chilliwack Search and Rescue, 3rd busiest in all of B.C., works to erase $750,000 shortfall for new facility

Jun 19, 2024 | 1:15 PM

CHILLIWACK — A representative of Chilliwack Search and Rescue told Chilliwack City Council members Tuesday (June 18) that the non-profit organization is working diligently to address a $750,000 shortfall as it builds its new facility on Fifth Avenue, east of Young Road, in an industrial area of Chilliwack.

Frank Van Nynatten, a 28-year member of Chilliwack SAR, said its new search and rescue facility under construction has seen ground densification completed, concrete footings and foundation established, and the majority of steel erected.

“I understand most of the welding is done,” Van Nynatten told Mayor Ken Popove and council members. “They’re preparing for the concrete panels, which should start arriving at the end of this week, and their installation will begin next week.”

Van Nynatten told council Chilliwack SAR originally anticipated the building would cost approximately $3.2 million. However, as the building design was being finalized, personnel realized there was some additional ground densification that needed to be done.

Image: City of Chilliwack video / Frank Van Nynatten of Chilliwack Search and Rescue.

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“We really wanted this to be a post-disaster building, in other words, after a significant seismic event,” Van Nynatten told council Tuesday (June 18). “We wanted to make sure the building would still be usable. That did increase the cost, just for ground densification, around $400,000, for stone piles, additional concrete and rebar to make sure that the building would remain robust.”

He said the current budget based on the design build with Gerry Enns Construction is in the $3.7 million range.

“It’s more than we anticipated, but still within our range of affordability,” Van Nynatten said.

Powerpoint slides at Tuesday’s council meeting indicate current fundraising tallies sit at $3.05 million, meaning Chilliwack Search and Rescue is roughly $750,000 short.

“We plan to finish this building in the next six months,” Van Nynatten said. “We have a financing plan in place, however, as an organization with no steady funding source, we are aware this is not our preference to carry a mortgage on this building. We are continuing to push hard to fundraise as we move towards completion.”

Chilliwack SAR has been diligent and prudent about saving for this new facility. According to Van Nynatten, Chilliwack SAR has put away “over a million dollars” over the past 8-10 years.

“We have a significant contribution from the City of Chilliwack, and we’re still continuing with our efforts to gain funding sources,” he said. “We were successful in getting a provincial gaming grant of $250,000 last year. We’re also already approved for a building loan and a mortgage for the shortfall.”

Chilliwack SAR volunteers each donate between 300 and 1,000 hours of time yearly to accomplish tasks like certifying and re-certifying in rescue disciplines, administration of the team, maintenance of equipment, vehicles and boats, and training exercises.

“As we are working through this build project, we are operating out of a temporary facility which is functional, but has put more stress on the system of our team to respond quickly to emergency calls,” according to powerpoint slides at Tuesday’s council meeting. “Securing sufficient and stable funding for the future. Stable future funding will allow us to provide a professional level volunteer Search and Rescue service to the Chilliwack area in the years to come.”

Concluding his presentation, Van Nynatten extended a heartfelt thanks to the City of Chilliwack for their continued support.

“On behalf of SAR, I do want to thank Mayor and Council for their continued support for this [project],” he said. “With your assistance, we’re able to provide the most up to date equipment and now, a modern building which makes our job quite a bit easier. We’re more prepared and more efficient and able to draw more volunteers who are willing to come on board with us.”

Earlier this year, buoyed by a $1 million funding commitment from city leaders, Chilliwack Search and Rescue officially broke ground January 16 for its new rescue hall, a project that would take an estimated 10 months to build 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 municipality wrote on Facebook in January 2024.

According to a news release issued on January 11, 2024, Chilliwack SAR invited business sponsors and city officials to attend a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning, January 16 as construction commenced after two months of demolition and ground work.

“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 in January 2024.