Comox Valley Search and Rescue secures permanent home

Comox Valley Search and Rescue has finally found a place to call its own. And it’s a building the team is quite familiar with.

The volunteer team has been renting their facility on Moray Ave. in Courtenay for the last 30 years, and it’s now theirs.

In a post on Facebook, the group says that community support, the ongoing “Roofs for Rescuers” campaign, funding from the Comox Valley Regional District, and the commitment of their longtime landlord all came together to make the purchase possible.

President of Comox Valley Search and Rescue, Gord Thompson, says owning the base is a game-changer. Instead of pouring money into lease payments, the highest of any of the 77 SAR teams in the province, more donations can now go straight into training, safety, and keeping equipment up to date.

The savings from owning rather than renting are significant, and that means resources can be redirected into supporting volunteers, keeping gear reliable, and making sure the team is ready when emergencies happen. Comox Valley Regional District Chair Will Cole-Hamilton says the purchase strengthens both the team’s capacity and its long-term sustainability, calling the dedication of CVSAR volunteers “inspiring.”

Even though the building is officially theirs, it still needs work. The fundraising focus will now shift toward renovations. The goal is to improve safety, modernize training facilities, and create more space for vehicles and equipment. And that need is real. In the past year alone, the team committed more than eleven thousand hours to training, administration, and search and rescue missions. Their coverage area stretches from Oyster River down to Cook Creek, across Denman and Hornby Islands, and inland to Buttle Lake. They also provide mutual aid when other SAR teams across BC need help.

Thompson says this milestone was only possible thanks to the generosity of the Comox Valley community. And he says the team is looking forward to turning the building into a true home base - one that will serve volunteers and support the region for decades to come.

If you’d like to help, more information is available at cvgsar.com