B.C. search and rescue volunteers consider quitting over liability fears

The leaders of the largest search and rescue teams in B.C. are demanding the province provide third-party insurance coverage for the volunteer organizations.

Officials from North Shore Rescue met with search groups from Whistler, Lions Bay, and Squamish, in Whistler on Wednesday night to organize a united front to present to the provincial government.

The groups are concerned after learning a Quebec man launched a lawsuit against the Golden and District Search and Rescue Association. Gilles Blackburn filed the suit claiming negligence by the association, the Mounties and a ski resort for not carrying out a proper search for him and his wife when they got lost on a mountain after skiing out of bounds. His wife, Marie-Josée Fortin, died of hypothermia after seven days on the mountain.

The province provides insurance for individual members, but said it is up to the non-profit societies that govern the groups to insure themselves.

Tim Jones of North Shore Rescue said both the volunteers and societies should be insured by the province.

The situation has upset some experienced volunteer rescuers, and some are considering quitting, Jones said.

"There are some members — and they are fellow members who I have known for my 20 years in search and rescue — they are beside themselves, and they are some of the most experienced search and rescue volunteers in the province," said Jones.

Rescue teams along the Sea-to-Sky corridor have agreed they will continue to provide full service for now. At least three search and rescue groups in B.C.'s southeastern interior recently suspended their operations over insurance concerns.

The province's new Solicitor General Kash Heed plans to meet with the head of the Search and Rescue Association of B.C. next week, but Jones said Heed should also meet with individual search team leaders to hear their concerns.