Vernon search and rescue leader wins provincial award

A long-time Vernon Search and Rescue team member has been honoured for her decades of community service.

Coralie Nairn is a recipient of a Community Award by the BC Achievement Foundation which celebrates British Columbians who go above and beyond in their dedication and service to others.

Nairn has been with search and rescue for 35 years and over that time, the Vernon organization has become one of B.C.’s leading SAR groups.

Nairn started as a ground search team member with Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, and eventually became a senior search manager at Vernon Search and Rescue and the team’s safety officer and media liaison.

“Her extensive training in various rescue techniques has earned her recognition as a respected leader and mentor within the Search and Rescue community,” the foundation stated.

As a Level II Search and Rescue manager, Coralie has overseen numerous large-scale operations. Her 11 years of experience with the Canadian Civil Air Search and Rescue Association and maintenance as a Search and Rescue Master with the Canadian Military further attest to her commitment and expertise in the field.” (BC Achievement Foundation)

In addition to her role at VSAR, Nairn is a program instructor for the Justice “Institute of British Columbia and volunteers for the Adventure Smart Program. Through this initiative, she has trained over 1,000 children and 500 adults, emphasizing the importance of safety during outdoor exploration.

Nairn was one of 20 British Columbians to receive the Community Award for 2024.

See the complete list here.