Badlands Search and Rescue is in need of volunteers and will be holding a recruiting session in Strathmore late April.
Badlands Search and Rescue (BSAR) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Rockyford that provides search and rescue services to Wheatland, Starland, and Kneehill Counties and surrounding areas, including Drumheller. When municipalities or law enforcement are in need of extra assistance in cases requiring response to missing, lost, injured, or stranded people, they will contact volunteer organizations like BSAR.
President and founder Scott Campbell told The Mail BSAR is primarily looking for individuals for ground search and evacs, but are also looking for individuals to fill administrative roles such as working with the board, fundraising, recruiting, education and training, and running social media.
“We’re looking for committed individuals with a degree of mental toughness,” he said, citing the recent case of Chase Martens, the Manitoba toddler who was found deceased in a creek.
“But we are willing to work with people’s strengths and weaknesses in order to train and develop members,” Campbell said, adding that accredited training is provided free to members on a monthly basis.
“Our big focus is for individuals to get out there on the ground and pound the bush in search and rescue.”
Drumheller RCMP did contact BSAR twice for searches last year, but quickly called them down because the missing person had fortunately been found.
The BSAR Recruiting Session will be held on Saturday, April 23 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Strathmore Firehall. More information can be found online at www.badlandsearchandrescue.com, or by calling BSAR at 403-324-3537.
