VANCOUVER --
A local search and rescue group is putting a new spin on a holiday tradition and reminding outdoor enthusiasts to be prepared if they're heading into the back country.
Coquitlam Search and Rescue shared photos on social media over the weekend of an Elf on a Shelf leaving the comforts of home – which is where it's usually found during the holiday season – to safely explore B.C.'s outdoors.
"We were fortunate to have an elf volunteer to join our team a few years ago," Tom Zajac, president of Coquitlam SAR, told CTV News Vancouver. "We try to focus on using the elf as a bit of an example of ways to stay safe in the wilderness."