This year’s Beaver Valley Citizen of the Year honour hits the heart — because it goes to the ones who show up when it matters most, often in our worst moment.
In recognition of that quiet courage, the 2025 award will go to all past and present members of South Columbia Search and Rescue, the committee has revealed.
This annual award recognizes individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the Beaver Valley community.
The committee says the dedicated volunteers of South Columbia Search and Rescue exemplify the spirit of service, commitment, and courage that the award celebrates.
Adrian Huber, president of South Columbia Search and Rescue, shares that the honour came as a welcome surprise during a busy time of year for the team, who are currently focused on training, equipment maintenance, and seasonal preparations.
“We’re honoured to receive the Beaver Valley Citizen of the Year award,” Huber told the Trail Times. “The communities around us have always done such a great job of making us feel appreciated, and this kind of recognition really lifts our spirits.
"It reminds us that our efforts are seen, and it helps keep us going.”
Huber noted that the recognition gave the group a moment to pause and reflect on the strong support they feel from the community, a “very rewarding feeling,” he added.
South Columbia Search and Rescue currently includes approximately 40 members.
Huber, who has been a member of the team since 2012, said the experience has been personally transformative.
Over his 13 years of service, he’s gained more than rescue skills — including non-profit management, leadership experience, and a deep appreciation for the power of volunteerism.
For those considering joining, he said Search and Rescue offers a wide range of opportunities, from backcountry operations to logistics and organizational roles.
“Volunteering with South Columbia Search and Rescue can be a life-changing experience — and it makes our whole community stronger.”
The award will be formally presented during the 115th Beaver Valley May Days celebration, a three-day event taking place next week from Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25.
The Citizen of the Year award ceremony and reception will be held next Friday, May 23, at 7 p.m. in the Beaver Valley Curling Rink.
The public and all past Citizen of the Year recipients are warmly invited to attend and help honour this remarkable team of volunteers.
A legacy of service
The group’s origins date back to around 1973, when the Civil Defence Rescue Services was formed in response to a growing local need. Initially composed of Montrose volunteer firefighters, the team operated out of the Montrose Fire Hall and focused on first aid and building rescue training.
This evolved into the Provincial Emergency Program, and in the late 1980s became Beaver Valley Search and Rescue.
As the team expanded and its members came from a wider region, the group adopted the name South Columbia Search and Rescue to better reflect its broader reach and diverse membership.
Today, South Columbia Search and Rescue is one of 78 volunteer search and rescue groups operating across British Columbia.
The team’s service area now includes Trail, Montrose, Fruitvale, Salmo, the area west of the Columbia River to the Kootenay Pass, and north from the U.S. border to Ymir.
These highly trained volunteers are on call 24-7, providing emergency services to the RCMP, BC Emergency Health Services (ambulance), and the BC Coroners Service — free of charge to both residents and visitors.
Their primary mission is to locate and assist people who are lost, injured, or in distress in the backcountry. They also support local authorities during natural disasters and are trained to assist if a mass casualty event occurs.
Volunteer onboarding typically begins in the fall with “Member in Training” intake, followed by full Ground Search and Rescue training in late winter.
Those interested in joining can visit the BC Search and Rescue Association website at bcsara.com/volunteer to learn more and connect with a local group.
