Nanaimo Search and Rescue's longest volunteer Ken Duncan with his award from the Nanaimo RCMP. (submitted/Carly Trobridge)

By Spencer Sterritt

always helping out

Longest Nanaimo SAR volunteer honoured for his committment, dedication and passion

Oct 28, 2019 | 8:59 AM

NANAIMO — The longest serving member of Nanaimo Search and Rescue was recognized for his lifetime commitment to helping others.

Ken Duncan received the high honour of a Commanding Officer’s Commendation from the RCMP after more than 25 years with Nanaimo Search and Rescue.

Duncan told NanaimoNewsNOW his desire to help others comes from his family and a sense of doing good in the world.

“I’ve always enjoyed doing things like this. Even prior to this in my earlier years I was volunteer teaching at the YMCA in Victoria. It all carries forth from that and helping people do things.”

The desire to help others is what turned a phone call he received soliciting financial donations for search and rescue into reaching out and becoming part of the team in 1992.

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He still remembers his first few call outs, one of which was looking for someone lost in the Cat Stream area of Nanaimo.

From 1992 to 2019, urban calls have increased dramatically for Nanaimo SAR. President Carly Trobridge previously told NanaimoNewsNOW the volunteer organization is being tasked much more heavily by Nanaimo RCMP in urban matters.

When Duncan started, Nanaimo SAR was roughly a dozen outdoors people looking for those who were lost. The organization now counts more than 50 volunteers.

He said the best way to keep a group like Nanaimo SAR prosperous and vibrant is to give a pat on the back to everyone who shows up.

“Give everybody a sense of good when they’re doing it.”

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit