Prince George Search and Rescue

The Fall 2025 intake is now closed.

The Prince George Search and Rescue Society (PGSAR) is a registered non-profit organization operating in and around the Prince George region. PGSAR is manned solely by volunteers who respond 24/7, all year round, in all types of weather conditions. Members are unpaid professionals highly trained in wilderness skills and technical rescue.

We are tasked by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Coroner Service of British Columbia, and British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS) in a variety of search and rescue functions. As members of a provincial team, we are sometimes asked to assist in other areas of the province as well.

How we are activated

Prince George Search and Rescue is activated by emergency services. If this is an emergency, please contact 9-11 and they will activate our team as needed.

Please note there is no cost for search and rescue! You do not need to wait 24 hours to report someone as missing. The sooner they are reported, the sooner we can help!

For non-emergency contact, please see the contact tab at the top of the webpage.

Non-Emergency Contact

Tweets by PrinceGeorgeSAR

Prince George Search and Rescue is feeling professional with Avalanche Canada and Avalanche Canada North Rockies at Otway Ski Trails.

24 hours ago

🚨 Avalanche Awareness – Heading Into the Weekend 🚨As we head into another busy winter weekend, Prince George Search and Rescue (PGSAR) wants to remind everyone travelling in the backcountry—whether you’re riding, skiing, or snowshoeing—to plan ahead and be prepared.✅ Pack the essentials✅ Leave a trip plan with a trusted friend (where you’re going, when you’re leaving, and when you expect to be back)✅ Carry gear you know how to use, including:• Fire‑starting supplies• Insulation and layers to stay warm• Reliable access to water• A communication device to call for helpOn February 23, PGSAR hosted an Avalanche Awareness Night in collaboration with overhang.pg , Ruckus, Trench Brewing & Distilling, PG Backcountry Recreation Society, and the Caledonia Ski Club. The evening focused on safety in avalanche terrain and featured multiple guest speakers, followed by an hour of hands‑on transceiver training at the avalanche transceiver park.We were thrilled to see approximately 50 people come out to learn, practice, and build skills it was a great night and a strong reminder of how important education is in the backcountry.With recent shifting weather conditions, there has been a high number of avalanches across the province in recent weeks. Proper planning, current conditions checks, and the right gear can make all the difference when heading into avalanche terrain.Be sure to check the comments section for a link to a recent CBC interview with PGSAR member Dave Merritt, where he discusses avalanche safety and conditions in BC this year.Stay safe, plan ahead, and look out for one another.Prince George Search and RescueSpecial thanks to evanduxmedia for capturing these photos!#AvalancheAwareness #BackcountrySafety #PGSAR #PlanPrepareSurvive #AvalancheCanada #WinterSafety ... See MoreSee Less

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Prince George Search and Rescue

6 days ago

PGSAR assisted Quesnel Search & Rescue in this dynamic task last night. Our winter response team provided technical assessment and safety guidance in this response in complex avalanche terrain. It was determined to call for the help from the RCAF.Thank you to the Royal Canadian Air Force for their assistance from the 442 Squadron.e iThis afternoon, Quesnel Search & Rescue was deployed to assist a snowmobile operator who had become separated from his party and trapped in a large drainage deep within avalanche terrain. Collaborating with avalanche safety experts from Prince George Search and Rescue, the team drafted an on-the-ground plan to address the "Considerable" avalanche risk in the Alpine. To mitigate the danger of exposing more volunteer personnel to the hazard, a request was made for the Royal Canadian Air Force 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron from Comox. This specialized resource is reserved for high-risk missions, and we are grateful they accepted the task. We commend the subject’s riding party for their vital role in maintaining communication and monitoring his location for several hours. The subject had a two-way radio with them which served as a lifeline.The subject was successfully extracted, treated by the SAR techs on the aircraft, and did not require further medical assistance. After landing in town the subject was handed off to the care of a member of the riding party.When venturing into the backcountry be sure to have an emergency signalling device, a means to keep warm, and appropriate avalanche safety gear if riding in avalanche terrain.Thank you to all who were involved in this rescue. When the call comes in SAR volunteers step up to serve our community.Avalanche Canada North Rockies Avalanche Canada Royal Canadian Mounted Police ... See MoreSee Less

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Prince George Search and Rescue is with Tourism Prince George and City of Prince George.

1 week ago

Huge thank you, Prince George! ❤️🧦Just 3 days left to grab your pair and support PGSAR!Your incredible support of Mr. PG sock sales this February has made a real impact for Prince George Search and Rescue.Because of your purchases, we’re excited to share that proceeds from this month’s sales will go directly toward upgrading our aging AEDs and ensuring both of our response trucks are equipped with two new ZOLL AED units.These lifesaving devices are critical tools for our volunteers whether we’re responding in the backcountry or supporting events here in our community. Your support helps us stay prepared when seconds matter most.There are still a few days left in February to grab your pair! You can purchase socks at the Tourism Prince George Visitor Centre, located at Canada Games Way beneath the library in the Civic Centre.Let’s finish the month strong and continue showing what makes this community so special. 💛#PGSAR #PrinceGeorgeBC #CommunityStrong #MrPGSocks ... See MoreSee Less

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Prince George Search and Rescue

1 week ago

Ice conditions are fluctuating greatly in the region. If you're headed onto ice make sure to have the proper gear and know how to use it. Consider taking an ice rescue course.Carry a throwbag/PFD/Ice Awls. Make sure you have a travel plan with a trusted friend that knows where you are heading and when to expect you back by. ... See MoreSee Less

Freeze-thaw cycles create deadly conditions with B.C. lakes and rivers this Winter Two snowmobilers lost their lives near Anahim Lake after breaking through the ice on Charlotte Lake on February 17, 2026, a tragedy that highlights the dangers of this year's unstable ice conditions. Search Manager Dave Merritt of Prince George Search and Rescue says a pattern of cold spells followed by significant warming has made ice across the region thinner and less predictable than usual, with hidden springs and snow cover making it impossible to judge thickness by sight alone. Both Merritt and the RCMP are urging the public to be prepared, take an ice rescue course, and consider avoiding frozen lakes and rivers entirely for activities like snowmobiling, ice fishing, and snowshoeing.

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Prince George Search and Rescue

2 weeks ago

PGSAR members are looking forward to connecting with outdoor adventurers tomorrow evening at Avalanche Awareness Night! ... See MoreSee Less

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