Mike Ritcey (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

50 YEARS OF SERVICE

Prolific searcher Ritcey set to retire after 50 years; won’t stop work with SRD K9s

Jan 21, 2026 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — Mike Ritcey is wrapping up a storied and dedicated career with search and rescue organizations. Ritcey has spent the last 50 years conducting search operations across British Columbia, from Vancouver Island to Dawson Creek. But as he closes the book on one chapter, he’s showing no signs of stopping his work with the Search, Recovery and Detection K9s (SRD), calling it his driving passion.

More than 50 years since his first unofficial search in Wells Gray, Ritcey is stepping away from his role with Kamloops Search and Rescue.

“There had been a lost moose hunter and he asked me if I wanted to go look for him, and as a young guy thought, ‘Oh, a great adventure.’ And we went out and it was such an incredible experience, I was hooked,” said Ritcey of his first rescue. “It was deep snow, full moon, and Herb, he tracked this person down to the mouth of Hemp Creek and the Clearwater River, and we found the guy, hiked back out that night — and it was just incredible.”

It’s now commonplace for search and rescue operations to employ drones, phones, GPS and thermal imagery — all tools that would have been unimaginable 50 years ago and have revolutionized how the job is done.

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“There is a lot more rescue than searching, but because of the population, there are more people out there so naturally there are more people that are going to go missing,” said Ritcey.

While stepping away from search and rescue, Ritcey is not ready to put his feet up quite yet, continuing his work with the Search, Recovery and Detection K9s.

“It just became a real driving passion and there aren’t a lot of people who are missing out there, and those are the people who need us,” said Ritcey. “And that is what SRD K9s are doing — we are the search and recovery, not search and rescue, and those people do need somebody looking for their lost loved ones.”

Ritcey joked he hopes to go another 50 years with the dogs.

“If people want to come and work a dog, I would be glad to help them like people helped me,” said Ritcey. “But it’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. Your dogs are with you 24/7 and you even book your holidays around them, and people buy houses according to their dogs. It’s a passion.”

Recently, Ritcey has been involved in the searches for Ben Tyner, Shannon White and Ryan Shtuka, all in an effort to give the families hope.

“What I get out of it is giving. To me it’s a privilege to help people, I think. Especially people who can’t ever repay you,” said Ritcey.