Tim Jones, North Shore Rescue get federal budget shout out

The late Tim Jones of North Shore Search and Rescue was honoured in the federal budget, unveiled Tuesday, as one of Canada's "quiet heroes" deserving of a new tax break.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty introduced a new 15 per cent Search and Rescue Volunteers Tax Credit on an amount of $3,000 for individuals who perform at least 200 hours of service each year.

• Budget 2014: Highlights

"Quietheroesacross Canada put themselves at risk in service of their communities byvolunteering for ground, air and marine search and rescue groups, insupport of the Canadian Coast Guard, police and other agencies," reads the Economic Action Plan 2014.

"They arean integral part of the emergency response system, and provide a source ofwell-organized, well-trained and well-equipped volunteers in the event of anatural disaster or large-scale emergency."

The document credited Jones for saving thousands of lives since he started volunteering for North Shore Search and Rescue in 1987.

• Profile: North Shore Rescue's Tim Jones

"Countlessindividuals in British Columbia and across the country are grateful forthe courageous service provided by Tim Jones and other search andrescue volunteers," it reads.

Search and rescue volunteers who receive an honorarium for their service may also be eligible for the new tax credit on an amount of $1,000.

Joneshonoured at Sochi Olympics

Jones passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 19 after suffering a cardiac arrest on a Mount Seymour trail in North Vancouver, B.C.

• Tim Jones, North Shore Rescue team leader, has died

The 57-year-old volunteered up to 40 hours a week with North Shore Search and Rescue, and personally participated in more than 1,800 search and rescue operations during his two-and-a-half decades of service.

He also worked tirelessly to ensureNorth Shore Rescue, whose members currently receiveno compensation,had stable and reliable funding.

• B.C. search and rescue model not sustainable, official warn

Jones' death touched many in B.C. Thousands of people attended his memorial, whichincluded a public parade and ceremony, and tributes poured in from across the country.

• Tim Jones of North Shore Rescue remembered as a hero
• Tim Jones honoured at North Vancouver memorial service
• Tim Jones's memorial tribute ends with helicopter sendoff

On Tuesday, those tributes came from nearly 10,000 kilometres across the Atlantic in Sochi, Russia.

A cameraman assigned to Canada's Olympic men's hockey team decorated his helmet with the Canadian flag and the numbers 5 and 4 Jones' radio call-sign.A photograph of the helmet was tweeted out by North Shore Rescue.

The men were North Shore Rescue teammates for 20 years.