A Cranbrook couple are being recognized by the provincial government for outstanding achievement as emergency volunteers who are part of the Public Safety Lifeline Volunteers (PSLV).

Dan and Louise Shynuk (PEP Air category) are among six others who are being recognized by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

The couple are valuable contributors to the Cranbrook PEP Air program. Dan, a pilot, and Louise, a navigator, spotter, and recently appointed Air Deputy for the Cranbrook area, have each provided over 18 years of reliable, around-the-clock volunteer service in support of Civil Air Search and Rescue in their region.

Both Dan and Louise are committed to their responsibilities as evidenced by providing pilot services to all five search taskings in the Southeast Zone, as well as navigator and spotter support to three of the taskings over the last 12 months. In addition, they are committed to ongoing training as they have formally participated in 29 training sessions, 80 hours of flying and 77 hours of classroom instruction over the last year, in addition to a significant investment of informal personal learning time.

They were members of a four-person crew that placed second in the provincial air search competition in 2011. Their contributions have had direct positive social and economic impacts on searches in the Toby Creek and Estella Mine areas, as well as in numerous other SAR Air missions undertaken during their lengthy and commendable PEP Air volunteer career. They are regarded as the “glue” of the Cranbrook PEP Air Program – a formidable team that cannot be matched.

“There really isn’t enough that can be said about folks like Dan and Louise. They’re selfless, brave, skilled, and incredibly good at what they do. It’s an understatement to say that we’re lucky to have them in our town of Cranbrook. It was a pleasure to host them in Victoria and recognize their contributions, but they know that the real thanks come from the hearts of those lives they so courageously touch,” stated Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett.

Each year, volunteers are recognized for their outstanding contributions in the following six categories: Search and Rescue, Emergency Social Services, PEP Air, Road Rescue, Emergency Communications and Lifetime Achievement.

“More than 13,000 volunteers across the province commit countless hours to provide support and expertise during emergency situations. The special volunteers we are recognizing today are dedicated and passionate about what they do. I want to express sincere gratitude on behalf of all British Columbians,” said Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond.

The 13,000 volunteers come from every corner of the province and from all walks of life. They respond to an average of 6,000 incidents a year. They contribute their time, community spirit, dedication and commitment to saving lives and public safety, notes a government press release.

The winners are:

Search and Rescue – Walter Bucher (Smithers) Road Rescue – Reg Gustafson (Nakusp) PEP Air – Dan and Louise Shynuk (Cranbrook) Emergency Social Services – Lyn Arikado (Kamloops) Emergency Radio Communications – Jim Forsyth (Prince George) Lifetime Achievement – Joe Mandur (Terrace).

PEP Air’s primary function is to assist Canadian Forces during search and rescue missions when additional resources are required.

PSLV volunteers lead air and ground searches, e.g., helping the victims of serious car accidents, setting up networks of volunteer teams and coordinating services for victims of natural disasters.

Approximately 4,700 registered search and rescue volunteers throughout the province are organized into teams. They respond to over 1,000 searches province-wide annually, involving more than 1,300 lost or missing people.

British Columbia’s diverse and rugged geography and numerous outdoor recreational opportunities have led to more recorded search and rescue incidents than in other parts of the country.

Currently, the organization includes over 100 aircraft crewed by more than 900 pilots, spotters and navigators.

Emergency Radio Communications respond when all other systems of communications fail. A proven and reliable means of communications, emergency or “ham” radio is a public-safety lifeline that assists within the community and links the community in crisis to where relief and support can be coordinated.

Emergency Social Services provides short-term assistance to British Columbians who are forced to leave their homes because of fire, floods, earthquakes or other emergencies. This assistance includes food, lodging, clothing, emotional support and family reunification.

Road Rescue volunteers attend over 2,000 motor vehicle accidents annually throughout the province. Road rescue teams provide vehicle extrication, rope rescue and other specialized rescue services to help protect BC’s travelling public.

Above photo: Louise and Dan Shynuk are flanked by Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett and Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond.

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