A new legacy fund has been created through the sale of property left to Arrowsmith Search and Rescue by a long-time community advocate. (Image Credit: Arrowsmith Search and Rescue)

By Alex Rawnsley

one man's will

‘Very appreciative:’ Arrowsmith SAR legacy fund created after surprise land gift

May 15, 2026 | 5:32 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — The passing of a long-time Oceanside resident several years ago has left an incredible, selfless legacy in the region.

Jack McLean, a former RDN director and long-time community advocate, left the generous gift of 21 acres of land in his will, to Arrowsmith Search and Rescue, property which was eventually sold and the proceeds turned into the new Arrowsmith Search and Rescue Legacy Fund.

Arrowsmith SAR manager Ken Neden said just under $1 million was deposited into the fund from the sale, money which will be invested, with yearly dividends provided back to the non-profit rescue group.

“What this fund will do for us is give us some more permanent funding every year. Our budget has increased between $400,000 and $500,000 a year. We do get funds from the Regional District and the provincial government, but we still rely on gaming grants, then fundraising campaigns and community donations to make up the shortfall.”

The money is to be invested through the Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation, with assistance from the Vancouver Foundation.

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It’s expected around $50,000 annually will come from the fund to aid local search and rescue missions.

Neden told NanaimoNewsNOW it was “kind of a shock” to be named in the will, and the organization was “very, very surprised and very appreciative, and I wish we could have thanked him in person, but we didn’t find out till later,” he said.

Ballooning budgets are due to a number of factors for the highly trained and skilled outfit.

Callout volumes have increased over the years, with upwards of 90 responses in a calendar year presently, up from around a dozen when Neden first joined many years ago.

Insurance of equipment, their headquarters at Qualicum Beach Airport, and liability are all considerable costs faced by the group.

“A lot of the training, like rope rescue training, we used to get at no cost to us, and now that could be $1,500 or more per person. A lot of the training items that we used to get, maybe for little or no cost, are now quite significant. The cost of equipment has gone up, and I always tell people to add the word ‘rescue’ to it, ‘rescue rated’…and it seems to triple the price.”

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by Alex Rawnsley

‘Very appreciative:’ Arrowsmith SAR legacy fund created after surprise land gift

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