Tim Jones epitomized the dedication and passion of the more that 2,500 search and rescue volunteers who serve our Province. Mr. Jones is considered one of the godfathers of the venerable North Shore Rescue (NSR) Team. The work is gruelling, dangerous and unpaid.
Over two decades, Mr. Jones worked with fellow team members to build NSR into one of North America’s premier search and rescue teams, one of the first to use helicopter based long line rescue, which he co-founded, and to establish protocols to treat hypothermia.
Mr. Jones’ accomplishments included the initiation of a kayak team and an area-wide communication system, which is also used by other search and rescue teams. He also helped raise well over a million dollars to fund the team’s work.
Mr. Jones participated in more than 1,400 search and rescue tasks as a Search Manager, Rescue Leader and Advanced Life Support Paramedic. The team has located more than 1,000 people and saved many lives.
In addition to his tremendous contributions on the North Shore, Mr. Jones provided his search and rescue leadership and medical skills to incidents elsewhere in B.C. and in Washington State.
A 50-hour volunteer week was not uncommon for Mr. Jones, one of our province’s great volunteers.