COSAR 70th Birthday
We are excited to celebrate a significant milestone—70 years of volunteer service to our community.
Join us on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, as we honor our rich history of safeguarding the Okanagan, recognize the dedication of our incredible volunteers, and express gratitude to the supporters who have contributed to the success of our non-profit organization.
The origins of COSAR can be traced back to a pivotal event in 1954. During a family camping trip, a young girl became separated from her group. A group of BC Civil Defense Volunteers from the community initiated a search effort. Their success in finding the child underscored the necessity for a formal Search and Rescue organization. Since then, COSAR has played a critical role in search and rescue missions across the Okanagan region and beyond.
Over the past seven decades, COSAR volunteers have responded to thousands of calls and trained for thousands of hours. The 70th birthday event will highlight COSAR’s journey, showcasing its diverse equipment use in rescue operations, including notable missions. Attendees will also have the chance to meet the team members.
We’re incredibly proud to reach this milestone. Our volunteers have been at the heart of this organization, showing an unshakable commitment to rescuing and reassuring. This celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the courage, dedication and humility that has defined COSAR since its inception.
We’ve had incredible support from the community over the years, and this event is also a way to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has stood by us—whether as a volunteer, a supporter, or someone we’ve had the privilege of rescuing.
It’s truly a celebration of the community spirit that makes everything we do possible.