Penticton & District Search & Rescue

10/19/2026

✨ MEMBER MONDAY | Meet Sasha! ✨

This week, we’re introducing Sasha, one of our newest Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) members!

Having worked alongside SAR teams in previous jobs and spending plenty of time outdoors herself, Sasha was already familiar with the important work SAR volunteers do. After years of doing her best to avoid needing SAR herself, she decided it was time to give back to her community.

Recently completing her six-month GSAR training, Sasha admits that getting back into study mode after seven years away from school was an adjustment! One of her favourite parts was practising skills with fellow trainees and building friendships along the way.

What has surprised Sasha most about PenSAR is the diversity of the team and the unique experiences and perspectives each member brings.

She’s looking forward to further training within GSAr and specialty teams.

Outside of SAR, Sasha has a background in the ski industry and account management. She’s an avid trail runner, snack enthusiast, and enjoys sewing and quilting. A fun fact? She’s fascinated by heavy machinery, especially aerial tramways and trains!

We’re excited to have Sasha on the team and look forward to seeing where her SAR journey takes her!

10/13/2026

✨ Task Update ✨

On Thanksgiving Monday, at approximately 5:25 p.m., Penticton Search and Rescue (PenSAR) received a call to assist an injured mountain biker on a trail just outside the Three Blind Mice trail network.

An initial team was immediately dispatched, followed by additional members responding on foot with a stretcher and another team accessing the area by UTV and some@additional support teams.

Once on scene, members provided care and stabilized the subject before safely extracting them from the trail.

The subject was transferred to BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) at approximately 7:20 p.m. for further care.

With this call taking place on Thanksgiving Monday, we’d like to acknowledge our volunteer members who responded and the families who continue to support their commitment to search and rescue.

Thank you to all responding members and our partners at BCEHS.

10/12/2026

✨ Task Update ✨

On October 10, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Penticton Search and Rescue (PenSAR) was tasked to assist Penticton RCMP with a missing person in the Carmi Recreation Forest area.

Multiple PenSAR teams were deployed, searching the area on foot, by UTV, and with the assistance of our drone team.

As temperatures dropped and the search continued without locating the missing subject, mutual aid was requested from Oliver Osoyoos Search and Rescue (OOSAR) and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) shortly after 9 p.m.

Both the RCMP and Oliver Osoyoos Search and Rescue (OOSAR) dog teams were also involved in the search.
The search was stood down at approximately 2:30 a.m., with plans to resume at first light.

This morning, around 1145am, RCMP helicopter team located the subject deep within a canyon. PenSAR’s helicopter team extracted the subject around 1pm and handed them over to BCEHS for assessment.

A great outcome after a long night and morning of searching!

A big thank you to OOSAR, COSAR, Princeton GSAR, & Thompson Nicola SAR, the RCMP, and all the volunteers involved in this search.

The collaboration between teams and agencies and dedication of our volunteers are what make these successful outcomes possible.

10/11/2026

A little Thanksgiving gratitude from all of us at Penticton Search and Rescue!

This Thanksgiving weekend, we want to take a moment to recognize the people and community who make what we do possible.

PenSAR is a volunteer-run organization. Our members dedicate countless hours to training and responding to calls, often putting their own plans, work and family time on hold to help others.

Behind every volunteer is a support system. To our families and loved ones who understand the missed dinners, interrupted plans and unexpected callouts, thank you. Your support means more than you know.

And to our incredible community, local businesses, sponsors and donors, thank you! Your generosity helps provide the equipment, training and resources our volunteers need to be ready when called upon.

We couldn’t do what we do without the support of so many people, both within our team and throughout our community.

From all of us at PenSAR, wishing you a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

10/09/2026

✨ Task Update ✨

Last night, October 8th, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Penticton Search and Rescue’s Rope Rescue Team and Drone Team were requested to provide mutual aid assistance to Princeton Ground Search and Rescue for an overdue individual in the Stemwinder area.

Nine PenSAR members responded to the call and worked alongside Princeton GSAR.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., the subject was located by drone in steep, challenging terrain.

Due to the subject’s location and the terrain, and darkness a rope rescue was deemed unsafe. Two PenSAR Rope Rescue Team members made their way down to the subject, remaining with them overnight until a helicopter long-line rescue could be safely completed.

Three additional PenSAR members remained at the top with Princeton GSAR, providing Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) support until subject was reached and 2 Princeton GSAR members remained overnight for support.

At approximately 9:00 a.m. this morning, the subject and PenSAR was successfully extracted by helicopter.

A big thank you to Princeton GSAR, Eclipse Helicopters and all involved for their teamwork and dedication throughout this challenging overnight task.

Another great example of SAR teams working together to bring someone home safely.

10/06/2026

RockExotica has confirmed that Penticton Search and Rescue is the first user of the NanoVortex Tripod on an operational task.

The Nano Vortex recently had the opportunity to be put to work by our rope rescue team on an operational task.

The Nano Vortex is a compact tripod system that gives our rope team a secure setup for raising and lowering people or equipment in difficult-to-access areas.

PenSAR members train across many rescue disciplines, rope rescue being just one of them. Bringing new equipment into service means learning how to use it effectively, integrating it into our systems, and ensuring our members are ready when the call comes.

We’re proud to put innovative tools like the Nano Vortex to work in support of our community.

10/06/2026

✨ MEMBER MONDAY ✨

This week, we’re introducing another one of PenSAR’s newest GSAR members, Anastasia!

Anastasia recently completed her Ground Search and Rescue training, and says the most humbling part was learning the knots.

“I felt and looked like a toddler learning a new language. I had to get members to literally move my hands through the knots before my brain understood them. Practice, and teammate patience, made all the difference.”

Friends involved in SAR inspired Anastasia to join after sharing how rewarding it was to give back to the community.

So far, she’s been most surprised by the diversity of PenSAR’s volunteers and has especially enjoyed learning from senior members and seeing their “quiet confidence and commitment to the community.”

For now, she plans to focus on GSAR and building a strong foundation. “My plan is to be on SAR long term, and I want to be able to show up wholly for that role.”

Outside of PenSAR, Anastasia works as a biologist and agrologist for Kintera and enjoys horseback riding, hiking, painting, gardening, travelling, and time with friends and family.

Fun facts? She’s travelled through eight countries in two weeks, is a published author, and has hiked Mont Blanc! 🏔️

Welcome to the team, Anastasia!

09/29/2026

A little different Monday night training for us this week!

After a busy August and a pretty full few weeks, we swapped our usual training night for a team BBQ.

Good food, lots of laughs, and a chance to just hang out and catch up with each other. Sometimes a little team time is exactly what’s needed!

Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a great night.

09/28/2026

PenSAR behind the scenes at the True North Rescue Challenge

What an incredible week and we couldn’t let it wrap up without recognizing the huge commitment from our own Penticton Search & Rescue members.

More than half of our team volunteered throughout the True North Rescue Challenge, putting in early mornings, long days and late nights to help ensure the event ran smoothly and safely.

From supporting scenarios and logistics to helping wherever an extra set of hands was needed, our members gave countless volunteer hours throughout the week, all while helping welcome rescue teams from around the world to our community.

And we weren’t only behind the scenes! A few PenSAR members also had the opportunity to step into the competition itself, filling spots on teams that needed additional members and getting a firsthand taste of the challenges alongside some incredibly skilled rescuers.

Our volunteers were also busy throughout the week selling raffle tickets and helping with the fundraiser in support of PenSAR thanks True North Rescue Challenge and Ronin Rescue. A huge thank you to everyone who purchased tickets, donated and supported us throughout the event.

Events like this take a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes, and we are incredibly proud of the way our members showed up, for the event, for each other and for the rescue community.

A huge thank you to every PenSAR member who gave their time, energy and expertise this week.

And congratulations to Ronin Rescue on bringing the first True North Rescue Challenge to Canada and to the South Okanagan.

It was pretty special to have an event like this happen right here in our own backyard.

📸 Toni & Jesse M

09/25/2026

Come watch the action!

The True North Rescue Challenge continues tomorrow, and the public is invited to come out and watch teams from around the world put their technical rescue skills to the test!

Friday’s public viewing locations are below 👇

🌧️ The forecast is looking a little wet, so dress for the weather, bring an umbrella, and come see these incredible teams in action.

And a reminder, 100% of raffle proceeds from the True North Rescue Challenge support Penticton Search & Rescue!

Tickets available Saturday morning at Gyro Park!

FRIDAY PUBLIC VIEWING LOCATIONS

Want to catch the True North Rescue Challenge in action?

Come out and watch rescue teams from around the world put their skills, teamwork and problem-solving to the test!

Friday Sept 25th public viewing locations:

📍 Carmi Recreation Trails • Ellis Canyon Area
Up near The Lost Moose

📍 Munson Mountain • Penticton BC

📍 McCullough Trestle
On the KVR between the cemetery and Poplar Grove Pump Track

📍 Valleyview
Skaha end of Penticton

📍 Gyro Park
Downtown Penticton

Teams will be out at the different locations throughout the day, until approximately 4–5 p.m. or until all teams have completed their scenarios.

🌧️ Rain is in the forecast, so come prepared! Bring your rain gear or an umbrella and appropriate footwear, the competition carries on rain or shine.

These are active competition sites, so please follow directions from event staff, respect designated spectator areas and give the teams plenty of room to work.

📸 Taking photos or video? Tag True North Rescue Challenge so we can see and share your experience!

Come out, cheer on the teams and get a firsthand look at the True North Rescue Challenge in action!



📸 toni_koeln