Starting out with just a snowmobile and a CB radio, Al has worked in search and rescue for 41 years in Nelson and is still going strong. Al is an exceptionally skilled outdoors man as a Rope Rescue Technician, a Swiftwater Rescue Technician and an Emergency Medical First Responder. He has also been an active member of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association for twenty five years, a volunteer ski patrol member and volunteer Sea Cadets instructor. In addition, Al serves as the Director, Crew Chief and instructor for both the Beasley Rescue Society and Kootenay Heli Rescue Society.

Al has helped a great many people over the years - everything from pulling stranded motorists out of ditches to saving a man from a burning car - for which he received a Distinguished Service Award from the Regional District of Central Kootenay. He also received the Higgins & Langley National Search and Rescue Award for rescuing three people from the Kettle River during a flood. But if you ask him, his most meaningful rescue was saving a woman who was trapped in a car submerged in ice water.

As a long-time and truly dedicated public safety volunteer, it is no surprise that Al was also voted Nelson's Citizen of the Year for 2004.

Carlene’s colleagues at Creston PEP Air describe her as the epitome of what a volunteer should be. Carlene is known to always go the extra mile and work long hours as a dedicated volunteer.

As the Area Air Deputy, Carlene organizes many training functions that help pilots and SAR technicians prepare for responses in mountainous terrain. Behind the scenes, she administrates training records, reporting of responses, and assists in evaluations of standards. In addition, her contributions as a Public Safety Lifeline Volunteer over the last decade do not begin and end there. She is also very active in Emergency Social Services, Ground Search and Rescue and is an integral part of the local Emergency Management Committee and Kootenay Critical Incident Stress Management Team.

While she never seeks the limelight, she always makes sure that PEP Air is recognized and promoted in the community. She has organized booths at trade fairs, participation in parades, and community outreach meetings and training sessions.

Her quiet dedication and willingness to take on any task that needs doing, has helped to ensure that the Creston Valley – and the South East Region – is well prepared for any emergency that may occur. Above all, she cares deeply for her fellow volunteers and her community, and is always there, no matter what the situation.

In addition to a long and varied career as a civil servant, logger and teacher at the high school and community college, Glenn has generously dedicated his time and expertise as an advanced operator for amateur radio in BC for over 40 years. For the past 15 years, he has also volunteered his time to work in the Terrace PREOC, and took on the role of representing the Northwest on the Provincial Emergency Radio Advisory Committee. Glenn has been instrumental in encouraging other amateur radio operators to become involved in their local emergency programs, and has developed a radio communications plan for the PREOC and the Northwest region.

Most Wednesday nights, you will find Glenn at the PREOC conducting a weekly radio systems test with teams across the rest of the province. In addition, he volunteers with the Terrace Amateur Radio Club, whose commitment to PEP is to ensure a trained, experienced response to assist in the PREOC, at any Northwest EOC, and in the field for search and rescue or emergency social services incidents.

Glenn is also devoted to teaching and supporting others in developing emergency broadcast systems abroad. On a recent trip to India, he attended a meeting of the Bangalore Amateur Radio Club, where he discovered amateur radio has no role in the Indian Emergency Preparedness system. However, his dedication and expertise may be influential in changing that one day as Terrace and Bangalore are working to twin their two amateur radio clubs for mutual support.

Kyle settled down in Golden after completing university in Calgary, where he majored in outdoor pursuits. From there he went on to develop emergency first responder skills in both a volunteer and professional capacity. Kyle worked for over a decade in the commercial rafting industry where he established himself as a river and rope rescue instructor. In 1998 he joined the Golden and District Search and Rescue Society. With his exceptional skills and leadership abilities, he was elected president of the society after a few short years.

Kyle played a key role in the development of one of the largest mountain safety programs in Canada and continues to work as a snow avalanche forecaster and supervisor of the ski area based program. Over the years, Kyle has become one of a handful of leading practitioners in organized technical rescue, including water, mountain, rope and avalanche disciplines. In addition to serving as president of the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association, he teaches search and rescue techniques to others and regularly provides leadership and direction to search and rescue practitioners across BC.

In addition to his various roles, including being a proud new father, Kyle has selflessly helped both federal and provincial authorities numerous times in search rescues and is currently training his second avalanche rescue dog.

Without exception, Kyle is held in highest regard by his peers as an expert in search and rescue in both BC and western Canada.

Joyce McLeod exemplifies the spirit of dedication and caring for her hometown of Kitimat as an emergency social services volunteer. Despite the demands of raising five children, she started out as an administrative assistant to the local Search and Rescue team and eventually became the Deputy Emergency Social Services Director.

Among her many accomplishments and time taken to care for people who have been struck by disaster, Joyce made sure hundreds of searchers were kept from going hungry during a seven-day search on Mount Elizabeth in 2002. Over the years she has also pitched in to help other communities when they were in need, such as Terrace during the floods of 2002 and both Kelowna and Kamloops during the 2003 firestorms. Closer to home, Joyce trained with the Northwest TEAMS group through 2006 and worked in the PREOC during 2007 freshet. With all her practical knowledge, Joyce wanted to share her invaluable experience with communities so she volunteered as an instructor at the Justice Institute of B.C. Joyce also represents her community and region even further on the Emergency Social Services Association Board of Directors and the ESSA Advisory Forum.

Joyce is passionate about her family, which has grown to 17 grandchildren. When she has a spare minute she enjoys creating watercolours, and just like a brush on canvas, Joyce has left her mark on all of those she has touched over the many years.

Rod first began volunteering in Search and Rescue in 1988 as a high school student, but decided to dedicate his time to road rescue once he was introduced to it a few years later with Cranbrook Search and Rescue. Rod’s team was so proficient – they can remove a car roof with hacksaws in under a minute – that they beat Calgary’s Fire Department Extrication Team in competition. Since 2000, Rod has been a Hope SAR manager, GSAR Instructor and still responds to road rescue calls anytime of night or day.

Over the years, Rod has willingly braved all kinds of weather, from 40+ to -40, strong winds, pouring rain and heavy snow on top of the Coquihalla. He has used his exceptional rope skills to extricate people from harrowing accidents, such cars that have rolled 600 feet down an embankment. In addition, Rod has also taken the time to obtain his advanced amateur radio operators licence so he can assist in other types of emergencies when needed.

There are few, if any, circumstances that would prevent Rod from helping someone in need. While on route to visit his mother in the hospital, he came across an accident and stopped to assist with first aid until the fire department and ambulance arrived. During a vacation, he told his family he’d catch up with them later after coming upon a multiple vehicle accident.

In everything he does, Rod’s dedication and commitment to the service is beyond compare.