Central Okanagan Search and Rescue
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization providing free, 24/7 search and rescue services across a 5,000-square-kilometer area in British Columbia's Central Okanagan. Founded in 1954, approximately 55 trained volunteers handle over 100 tasks annually using multi-discipline rescue capabilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersKelowna, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Central Okanagan Search and Rescue does
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) is a nonprofit, all-volunteer search and rescue organization that has operated continuously in British Columbia's Central Okanagan region since 1954, making it the province's oldest organized SAR team. Approximately 55 trained volunteers remain on call 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and respond to more than 100 task activations annually across a 5,000-square-kilometer service area extending from Peachland to Kalamalka Lake, Beaverdell, and Elkhart Summit. The organization is officially tasked by Emergency Management BC (EMBC) and the RCMP, and is ranked as the third-busiest volunteer SAR organization in Canada.
Service delivery is executed through a unified suite of specialty teams: Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR), Technical Rope Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, K9 Search and Tracking (with RCMP Police Dog Services-validated dogs), Boat and Water Operations, Drone Operations, and UTV/Snowmobile winter teams. Capabilities are supported by distributed equipment caches (including a West Kelowna gear cache for faster west-side response), advanced first aid including physician and flight nurse support, and a mandatory GSAR training course for all new members within their first year. COSAR also produces public education resources in partnership with AdventureSmart and hosts the annual Central Okanagan Rescue Exercise (CORE) training event for BC's rescue community.
The organization's business model is donation- and sponsorship-funded; all rescue services are provided at no charge to subjects, with COSAR explicitly committed to eliminating financial barriers to emergency response. Revenue is sourced from community donations, local foundation grants (Central Okanagan Foundation), corporate sponsorships (notably a $75,000 three-year commitment from Callahan Property Group announced in June 2024), in-kind support (Mega Storage), and provincial coordination via the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA). Activation flows through the 911/RCMP tasking system rather than direct commercial channels, and the organization is currently pursuing a new purpose-built facility on John Hindle Drive in Kelowna to replace its existing Old Vernon Road headquarters.
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Central Okanagan Search and Rescue
- Legal name
- Central Okanagan Search and Rescue
- Website
- https://cosar.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization providing free, 24/7 search and rescue services across a 5,000-square-kilometer area in British Columbia's Central Okanagan. Founded in 1954, approximately 55 trained volunteers handle over 100 tasks annually using multi-discipline rescue capabilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Search and Rescue Services
- NAICS
- Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Ambulance Services (621910)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency Response & Search-and-Rescue (SAR) (BPAGAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ), Search & Rescue (SAR) K9 Services (BPAKAKAH), Search & Rescue (SAR) & Technical Rescue Training (EDAOAMAI)
Keywords
Where Central Okanagan Search and Rescue is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kelowna
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorships: COSAR operates as a nonprofit that relies on donations, sponsorships, and fundraising from the community. The organization receives support from local businesses and individuals to maintain vehicles, equipment, and training.
- No-Charge Services: The organization provides search and rescue services completely free of charge to those in need. This is a core operational principle rather than a revenue stream.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue product offering
Product offeringCore offering
COSAR provides free, volunteer-operated search and rescue services 24/7, 365 days per year across a 5,000 km area in British Columbia. The organization delivers multi-discipline emergency response capabilities including ground search and rescue (GSAR), technical rope rescue, swift water rescue, K9 search and tracking, helicopter rescue, drone operations, boat/water rescue, and UTV/snowmobile winter response, with advanced first aid support from physicians and flight nurses. All services are activated through 911 calls and coordinated with the RCMP, Emergency Management BC, BC Ambulance Service, and local fire departments, with no charge to subjects in need.
Product overview
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) is a nonprofit, all-volunteer search and rescue organization offering a unified suite of emergency response services. The core offering is free, 24/7 search and rescue coverage across a 5,000 km area. This is delivered through multiple specialty teams including Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR), Technical Rope Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, K9 Search and Rescue, Boat Operations, Drone Teams, and UTV/Snowmobile teams. COSAR also provides public education resources and hosts the annual Central Okanagan Rescue Exercise (CORE) training event. All services are provided at no charge to those in need, with approximately 55 volunteers contributing over 20,000 hours annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Search and Rescue Services Free, volunteer-operated search and rescue services available 24/7, 365 days per year across a 5,000 km service area from Peachland to Kalamalka Lake to Beaverdell to Elkhart Summit in British Columbia. Services are activated through 911 calls and coordinated with the RCMP, Emergency Management BC, BC Ambulance Service, and municipal fire departments for individuals in need.
- Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) Training Nationally recognized ground search and rescue training course required for all new COSAR members within their first year, providing foundational operational skills for SAR volunteers.
- K9 Search and Rescue Program Certified search and rescue dog teams providing wilderness search and tracking services, including K9 Barrett who holds RCMP Police Dog Services validation, continuing the legacy of K9 Chase.
- Central Okanagan Rescue Exercise (CORE) Annual rescue exercise event hosted by COSAR to further education and experience of BC's rescue community, including CORE (SAR EMCR oriented rope event) and CORE GSAR (ground search skills) components with multiple instructors from around the province.
- Advanced First Aid Services Advanced first aid and medical assessment services provided during rescue operations, including physician and flight nurse support for medical stabilization and evacuation of injured subjects.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 tasks per year response capacity
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Central Okanagan Search and Rescue
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Mega StorageminorProvides use of facilities for equipment storage.
- Kelowna Fire DepartmentcoreCollaborative emergency response partner for rescues and joint community events like the annual open house.
- AdventureSmartcoreNational partnership providing outdoor safety education through the Three Ts program (Trip planning, Training, Taking essentials). AdventureSmart provides essential safety tips and resources for outdoor adventurers.
- BC Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA)coreProvincial association representing 80 registered SAR teams and approximately 2,500 volunteers across BC. BCSARA advocates for no-charge SAR services.
- Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO)coreLocal government district conducting building needs analysis for COSAR facility requirements and considering options for new headquarters.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP): Federal/national police force that activates SAR teams in BC and validates COSAR's K9 program (Police Dog Services). Compares as the principal law enforcement tasking authority for COSAR operations.
- Emergency Management BC (EMBC): Provincial agency that tasks and funds SAR teams in BC, including COSAR. Compares as the principal institutional customer/government counterpart to COSAR's volunteer delivery model.
Emerging players
- AdventureSmart: National outdoor safety education program (Three Ts: Trip planning, Training, Taking essentials) that is an active partner of COSAR. Compares as an adjacent prevention/education player in the same SAR ecosystem.
Direct peers
- North Shore Rescue: Highly active BC volunteer search and rescue team serving the North Shore mountains. Closest functional peer to COSAR given its multi-discipline SAR capabilities, 24/7 volunteer model, and high task volume.
- Pemberton Search and Rescue: BC volunteer SAR organization serving a similar backcountry tourism region. Comparable volunteer structure, no-charge service model, and reliance on donations and community support.
Broad incumbents
- Canadian Search and Disaster Response Association (CASDRA) / Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC): National volunteer SAR advocacy body coordinating provincial associations including BCSARA. Comparable as a peer-level governance and advocacy organization for volunteer SAR.
- BC Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA): Provincial association representing 80 registered SAR teams and ~2,500 volunteers across BC. Directly comparable umbrella body whose member teams operate with the same volunteer, no-charge SAR mandate as COSAR.
Regional players
- Kelowna Fire Department: Local municipal fire service that collaborates with COSAR on joint rescue operations and community events such as the annual open house. Comparable as a regional emergency response partner within the same service area.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue social profiles
Digital presenceCentral Okanagan Search and Rescue financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Central Okanagan Search and Rescue
What does Central Okanagan Search and Rescue do?
COSAR provides free, volunteer-operated search and rescue services 24/7, 365 days per year across a 5,000 km area in British Columbia. The organization delivers multi-discipline emergency response capabilities including ground search and rescue (GSAR), technical rope rescue, swift water rescue, K9 search and tracking, helicopter rescue, drone operations, boat/water rescue, and UTV/snowmobile winter response, with advanced first aid support from physicians and flight nurses. All services are activated through 911 calls and coordinated with the RCMP, Emergency Management BC, BC Ambulance Service, and local fire departments, with no charge to subjects in need.
Is Central Okanagan Search and Rescue a public or private company?
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Central Okanagan Search and Rescue founded?
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue was founded in 1954. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Central Okanagan Search and Rescue based?
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue is headquartered in Kelowna, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Central Okanagan Search and Rescue make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are no-Charge Services.
Who are Central Okanagan Search and Rescue's main competitors?
Others on record are Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Emergency Management BC (EMBC). AdventureSmart is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are North Shore Rescue and Pemberton Search and Rescue. Broad incumbents are Canadian Search and Disaster Response Association (CASDRA) / Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) and BC Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA). Kelowna Fire Department is listed as a regional player.
Does Central Okanagan Search and Rescue have an API?
No public API is recorded for Central Okanagan Search and Rescue.
What industry is Central Okanagan Search and Rescue in?
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue's product category is Search and Rescue Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAA, Emergency Response & Search-and-Rescue (SAR), with a secondary code of HLAJAGAJ, Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination. Its NAICS code is 62423 and its SIC code is 8300.