Nova Scotia Ground SAR
Search and Rescue in Nova Scotia started officially in November of 1969 after a 5 day search in the Cape Breton Highlands for a father of 5, who was found alive. While he was in the hospital recovering, Cape Breton Search and Rescue was created. Since then another 23 teams were created in Nova Scotia, with over 1,300 volunteers.
The Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association was started in 1992 after 2 years of meetings with all 23 teams and EMO-NS. This gave 1 voice for all teams in Nova Scotia to EMO-NS. We respond to lost/missing persons, evidence searches and Civilian Emergency Response for EMO-NS, the RCMP and many municipal police forces in the province.
The Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association was started in 1992 after 2 years of meetings with all 23 teams and EMO-NS. This gave 1 voice for all teams in NS to EMO-NS. We respond to lost/missing persons, evidence searches and Civilian Emergency Response for EMO-NS, the RCMP and many municipal police forces in the province.
2014 statistics indicate that NSGSARA contributed in many ways to public safety in our Province:
- 1320 Volunteers
- 113 Searches
- 148,117 searcher hours
- 31,525 training hours
- 7408 prevention hours including the Hug A Tree and Survive program
- 24,288 person hours for meetings
- 21,429 volunteer hours for fundraising
Many changes have occurred in GSAR in Nova Scotia since 1969. From planning a search on the hood of a truck to the electronic age with digital mapping (although we still use the paper ones too) .
The most notable search in Nova Scotia was the Andy Warburton Search in 1986. Sadly, Mr. Warburton was found deceased, however many lessons were learned from this search and competencies for SAR Management were developed. This search is now used in the NASAR training for SAR Management, the MLPI Course.
In 2010, Project Lifesaver was introduced to the province. We are one of the few provinces/states in North America to have coverage for the entire province.
With the help of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS), Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) and EMO-NS, we have developed into top notch GSAR teams for Nova Scotia. Through New Initiatives Funding (NIF) grants we have developed and are using a Real Time Tracking system,and the S.M.A.R.T. system ( Search management and record tracking). With these groups helping the NSGSARA, we have supplied much required equipment to all teams in Nova Scotia.
