North Shore Rescue (NSR) is a volunteer, community-based search and rescue operation located in Vancouver, British Columbia.   Recognized for its expertise in emergency management (mitigation, preparation, response and recovery), it has for 50+ years, provided life-saving services to members of the public exploring the North Shore region outside Vancouver, British Columbia, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  

North Shore Rescue offers a variety of search and rescue services – the main ones being; mountain search and rescue; helicopter rescue; urban search and rescue; public education; and civil emergency response, police evidence search, and the Grouse Grind patrol. There is no charge for their services.  The 40 plus volunteers, from all walks of life, are skilled in search and rescue operations in mountain, canyon and urban settings.   

It is a founding organization for the provision of the Helicopter Human External Cargo System or HEC. HEC is used to insert/extract rescuers into difficult terrain, as well as to extract stranded or injured patients. It is quick, efficient and very safe. NSR has performed 100’s of these specialized rescues since its inception in 1996 and is a leader in North America in this type of rescue.

Due to the team’s expert skillset and innovative techniques, commitment to continual training and improvement, and dedication to the preservation of life, the team has found itself increasingly tasked with responding to mutual aid calls across the province.  November 2021, brought unprecedented, life-altering flooding to the town of Merritt and towns in the Fraser Valley region of the province.  NSR made themselves available to assist where and when needed and with its team members, responded to a number of mutual-aid calls.    The team executed each rescue under less than ideal conditions—downed power lines, contaminated water, rising flood water, floating debris, and poor visibility.   Despite the risk to their own lives, the high-functioning team covered vast rural areas to rescue the very young, the elderly, the vulnerable, the medically distressed, and beloved family pets, in their typical calm, measured and empathetic manner. Despite the danger around them, team members were able to reassure evacuees they were now safely out of immediate danger.  This award is presented to North Shore Rescue organization in recognition of the outstanding, enduring, and meritorious search and rescue service it provides in Vancouver, and when requested, in other parts of British Columbia.

North Shore Rescue has evolved in its methods of search and rescue and in its training methods but always stays true to its mission to:

• Establish an organization to search for, rescue and assist persons in distress
• Educate the public in safely exploring the many trails in the region
• Assist other organizations with similar purposes
• Provide assistance to civil authorities
• Provide advice and expertise to any who ask

2011  Conair Group Inc.

2012  Boeing Company Training Systems and Government Services

2013  Bombardier Aerospace

2014  not awarded

2015  Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA)

2016  Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service

2017  Kenn Borek Air Ltd

2018  Coulson Aviation

2019  Cougar Helicopters Inc

2020  William "Bill" Alder Sealand Aviation Inc.

2021  Civil Air Patrol -- USAF Auxiliary

2022  ICARUS Devices

2023  North Shore Rescue