Petitioning for a National Search and Rescue Day

Currently, there are over 12,000 volunteers throughout Canada that are willing to drop whatever they are doing any time of day or night to search for and provide aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. A national day would recognize these past, present and future individuals that go above and beyond to support their communities -- as well as to help educate the public on the risks and dangers of the backcountry and ill-preparedness. 

In the Metro Vancouver area, news about lost or stranded hikers is often a daily fare. Even this past week, Coquitlam Search and Rescue volunteers were involved in rescue of a hiker stranded on a cliff off of the Dilly Dally Loop at Buntzen Lake. Only a few days prior, a missing 75-year old was rescued from the McCartney Creek by North Shore Search and Rescue.

The petition opened for signatures on June 21st and closes on October 19th at 12:58 p.m. (PST). Currently there are 287 signatures across Canada. 75% of the signatures are from British Columbia alone. If the petition receives 500 valid signatures, it can be certified by the Clerk of Petitions for presentation in the House of Commons.