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Wet weather opens up emergency shelter beds Sam Bates The Progress In case you haven’t noticed, it’s really wet out there. During a downpour like we’ve had this week, no one should have to sleep outside. That’s why Chilliwack has an Extreme Weather Community Plan. Our local shelters, The Salvation Army, Cyrus Centre Chilliwack, and Ruth and Naomi’s Mission came together in 2014 to create the collaborative plan. Representatives from each agency agreed upon the unified plan which was then submitted to B.C. Housing. As stated on the B.C. Housing website, “The provincially funded Extreme Weather Response (EWR) program provides individuals and families in need with access to a warm, dry place to sleep during extreme weather conditions between November 1st and March 31st.” “We didn’t reinvent the wheel,” said Les Talvio, Executive Director of Cyrus Centre Chilliwack. “We put together a plan that mirrored those in other communities.” Essentially, the community plan equips each agency with extra beds and resources for those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, to be utilized during extreme weather conditions. Continued: WEATHER/ p4
Two of five extreme weather shelter beds at the Chilliwack Salvation Army.
A recent training exercise in Chilliwack demonstrates a long line helicopter rescue. This week the province announced additional funding for search and rescue teams across B.C. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS FILE
Local SAR volunteers welcome funding lift Jessica Peters The Progress Search and rescue teams across the province are breathing a sigh of relief this week, following a surprise funding announcement from the government worth $10 million. “There was certainly no hint of it,” said Doug Fraser, Chilliwack SAR search manager. “The whole announcement of this funding came as a surprise to everybody in the search and rescue community.” The funding is a one time grant, in addition to the $6.3 million provided annually. It will take months to sort out where that money will be allotted, Fraser noted.
“Some will be held back by the B.C. Search and Rescue Association and kept for use at a provincial level,” he said. The association provides critical programming that benefits all of the 80 SAR teams across the province. It will help with coordination of their Adventure Smart program, and other awareness programs that help educate the public — and hopefully reduce the number of calls SAR teams attend each year. There are more than 2,500 volunteers embarking on 1,300 missions a year in this province. “On its own that’s remarkable, but it’s particularly extraordinary in the context and contrast of just 2,000 search and rescue missions nation-wide, coast-to-
coast, each year,” read a statement from Naomi Yamamoto, minister of state for emergency preparedness. “Our volunteers are remarkable folks doing extraordinary things,” she wrote. “Their teams are an invaluable resource to the people of this province. They donate more than 100,000 hours a year scouring the trails and forests, rappelling into steep ravines and weathering the worst of the elements to help others.” Fraser said the money will go to good use, and help alleviate pressures among their teams in the short term. “Our main focus as a provincial group of search and rescue teams, and through the B.C.
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Search and Rescue Association, is to secure improved funding,” he said. They have been in ongoing talks with the government to look at what they call an “alternate support model.” “(This funding) is a great indication that the government is listening to our needs, and I hope that translates into ongoing improvements.” Minister Yamamoto commended the work the volunteers carry out, which often takes them away from their families and regular jobs, at a moment’s notice. “We owe a debt of gratitude to our troops of tirelessly dedicated search and rescue volunteers,” she said. “They brave difficult
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