Rescue Canada Resource Group

Rescue Canada Resource Group Rescue Canada provides internationally acclaimed training, services and products. Rescue Canada (RC) was founded in 1988 by Jim Lavalley.

In its first year, Rescue Canada became the Canadian agent for Rescue 3 International’s Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT) course developed by founder Jim Segerstrom. Throughout the 90’s Rescue Canada expanded the original SRT program across the country and adapted it to better fit the needs of the different sectors of the swiftwater industry. About Jim and his team

Jim has learned many critical

things while focusing the past 4 decades of his professional life solely to working in and learning about the many safety and rescue factors. Aspects that are important for all us who work and play in the moving water and ice environments, whether we are hiking, wading, swimming, operating boats, using ropes or working with helicopters. Jim will share his experience of over 47,860 documented hours operating on over 260 river systems across Canada and around the world along with tens of thousands documented hours of experience in the water, mountain, urban and industrial environment. This includes operating and teaching others; designing and developing content; specialized equipment; and acting internationally as a court-recognized, subject matter expert. Rescue Canada's Master Instructors have an average of over 20 years and 15,000 hrs of documented professional experience. This brings another unmatched source of information and experience that we will put at your fingertips.

08/14/2026

Last post we talked about the numbers, the uncomfortable reality of recreational drownings. This post, here's one thing you can actually do about it.

Rescue Canada's Boat Safety Awareness course is online, self-paced, and takes about as long as a lazy afternoon. This course gives you a real foundation: boat types, what can go wrong out there, how different power setups behave, and what to do if things go sideways.

This isn't a watered-down public version of something. It's the same course our own rescue techs take before they ever get on the water professionally. We just made it available to anyone who wants to purchase it, because you shouldn't need a badge to understand the water you're already on.

Do it before the next trip out, not after something happens. Proactive > Reactive.

https://rescuecanada.ca/boat-safety-training/

Next up in this series: the gear that actually matters, and how to pick it.

08/13/2026

This isn't going to be a feel good post. We're not going to pretend everything on the water this summer has been fine, because it hasn't, and sometimes you have to cut through the fluff and talk about the uncomfortable stuff.

BC has already seen 40 accidental drowning deaths between May and mid July this year. That's up from 26 over the same stretch last year, and it's the sharpest increase of any province in the country. July and August are historically the worst months, and we're right in the middle of them.

Almost half of those deaths happen in lakes, rivers, and creeks. The kind of water most of us grew up on. In late June, a charter boat went down near Roberts Bank with 10 people on board. None of them were wearing a life jacket.

That detail shows up again and again. Not bad luck. Not freak accidents. People in the water, or on it, without a PFD on.

We're starting a three part series this month. This is part one. Next up, we'll walk through our online water safety awareness course, built for boaters, paddlers, and anyone who spends time near lakes and rivers. After that, we'll get into the gear, what actually keeps you safe, and how to pick it.

Wear your PFD. Not the one stuffed under the seat. The one on your body.

08/12/2026

That drysuit in your gear bag is only as good as its last inspection.

Most leaks don't show up on a warm day in the driveway. They show up an hour into a cold water swim, when it's too late to do anything about it.

We test, clean, and repair drysuits at Rescue Canada. Pressure testing to find leaks before you do. Gasket treatment and replacement. Zipper repairs, fabric bo**ie repairs, seam repairs. Full clean and wax service too, so the suit performs the way it's supposed to, not just looks fine on a hanger.

If you work or play in cold water, this is the kind of maintenance that doesn't feel urgent until the day it is. Bring it in before you get busy.

"Fun and encouraging" isn't usually how people describe ice rescue training. We like changing that.Ice rescue skills nee...
08/07/2026

"Fun and encouraging" isn't usually how people describe ice rescue training. We like changing that.

Ice rescue skills need to be sharp, but that doesn't mean the learning has to feel cold and clinical. Amanda Svenson and her team joined us for the Ice Rescue Course and left with a full weekend of hands on skills built around their specific needs. Our instructors tailor every session to the team in front of them, so training feels practical, supportive, and genuinely enjoyable, even when the conditions are anything but. That's the kind of experience we aim to deliver every time. Ready to build your team's ice rescue skills?

08/05/2026

Tight spaces, zero room for error.

Confined space rescue asks for a different kind of focus. Every rig, every knot, and every movement has to be exact when there's barely room to turn around. In this training session, our team worked through vertical entry and rope rescue techniques in a real world confined environment, building the muscle memory that matters when a call comes in for real. Rescue Canada trains for the spaces most people never think about, so our responders are ready no matter how narrow the margin gets.

Eyes on the water, ready before we're needed.This is what standby rescue looks like from our seat. While your event, fil...
08/03/2026

Eyes on the water, ready before we're needed.

This is what standby rescue looks like from our seat. While your event, film shoot, or worksite carries on, our crew is stationed nearby with a jet boat ready to launch in seconds. Standby rescue means having trained responders and the right equipment on site so help never has to travel far when conditions change fast. It's about being present, alert, and prepared for the moment before it happens, not after. That's the standard Rescue Canada holds on every job, on every body of water we cover.

"Memorable, fun, and exciting" is exactly how we want our training to feel.Swift water conditions don't wait for anyone ...
07/31/2026

"Memorable, fun, and exciting" is exactly how we want our training to feel.

Swift water conditions don't wait for anyone to be ready. That's why our Swift Water Rescue course is built to push your skills, sharpen your instincts, and build real confidence under pressure. Sarah McDonell joined us for hands on training and walked away with new skills and a five star experience to match. Our instructors are here to make sure every student leaves prepared, capable, and ready for what the water throws at them. Ready to build your own rescue skills? Availability for Summer/Fall is filling up fast.

07/30/2026

Embankments don't wait for perfect conditions. Neither does the training.

This crew ran a full rope embankment scenario, harnesses on, anchors set, gear checked before anyone loaded the line. Slope rescue is not the same as a vertical drop. The angles change, the footing changes, and your system has to hold up to both.

That is what this session was built around. Set the anchor, run the line, move the load, check it again. No shortcuts, no guesswork, just reps until it is automatic.

This is the kind of training that matters when the call comes in and the ground is not level and the clock is not on your side.

Two points of failure become one. That's the whole pitch.On an embankment rig, every extra carabiner and connector is on...
07/29/2026

Two points of failure become one. That's the whole pitch.

On an embankment rig, every extra carabiner and connector is one more thing to inspect and one more thing that can go wrong. That's why we carry the Rock Exotica Omni-Block and the Petzl SPIN L and S. Both build the swivel right into the pulley body, so the load stays oriented under tension without bolting on a separate swivel.

The Omni-Block sideplate opens while it's still clipped to the anchor. Rig it, adjust it, re-rig it, no need to break your connection to do it. The Petzl SPIN pulleys open just as fast with gloves on, and the sealed ball-bearing sheaves keep the rope running smooth under load.

Less hardware. Fewer inspection points. One tool doing two jobs. That's what you want on a slope, in a canyon, or on any haul system where time and weight both matter.

Come see the lineup in store or shop it online.

07/24/2026

Confined space training in action. Our local fire team worked through a full evacuation, moving a life-like mannequin out of a tight space to sharpen technique, communication and speed.

This is how crews stay competent, qualified and ready when it matters most.

Address

8364 Young Road South
Chilliwack, BC
V2P4N9

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 3pm
Tuesday 8am - 3pm
Wednesday 8am - 3pm
Thursday 8am - 3pm
Friday 8am - 3pm

Telephone

+18006638931

Website

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