News

2025 SARVAC Humanitarian Workforce Wildfire Operations Recap 

July 15 – August 29, 2025 More than 179 trained Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) volunteers from across Canada answered the call to support wildfire response. Deployment Highlights Manitoba 107 responders 783 person-days Newfoundland & Labrador 88 responders 656...

Humanitarian Workforce (HWF) Deployment Update

This week, our final rotations remained fully engaged with operational tasks while preparing for demobilization. Some SARVAC HWF responders from Nova Scotia returned home on short notice to support their own communities facing active wildfire emergencies. Meanwhile,...

SARVAC Humanitarian Workforce Program (HWF) Update – NL and MB Deployments

📍 Newfoundland & Labrador: Since the start of this week, the National Incident Support Team (NIST) has been activated, and SARVAC HWF response planning is ongoing. Mission Ready Group NL Rotation 1 has been selected. Travel is arranged, a Base of Operations has...

Wildfire National Response Update

Actively Monitoring in Newfoundland & Supporting Operations in Winnipeg from the HWF Team As the first week of August comes to a close, wildfires in Newfoundland and Labrador have prompted a State of Emergency and Evacuation Order, with the Holyrood Fire still...

WEEK 2 UPDATE | Manitoba Wildfire Evacuation Support 

SARVAC’s Humanitarian Workforce Program (HWF) continues to maintain a steady presence on the ground in Winnipeg, supporting wildfire evacuees across Manitoba. Following the successful launch of operations earlier this month, Rotation #2 has now completed its...

COUNTDOWN TO SARSCENE 2023

Today marks the ONE week countdown to the start of SARscene 2023 and official kick-off with the SAR games next Thursday, at the Rotary Sunshine Park’s outdoor recreational facility hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association (NLSARA) from...

$82M FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

“When emergencies strike, local organizations and community volunteers are often among the first on the scene and provide vital support—from assisting with evacuation efforts, to opening shelters and providing food, clothing, and compassion to those with nowhere else...

Emergency Preparedness Week Toolkit

May 7-13, 2023 This year we are back to take an active role in helping build a culture of preparedness in Canada and Emergency Preparedness Week with this year's theme: “Be Prepared. Know Your Risks.” While governments at all levels are working hard to keep Canada...

National Volunteer Week – Volunteering Weaves Us Together

Let’s celebrate our individual and collective actions in creating a strong, interconnected and vibrant SAR community here in Canada! Being a GSAR volunteer weaves us together, strengthening the fabric of our community by sharing our time, talent and energy to support...

GSAR-NACP: Legacy National Certification

We’re proud to officially roll-out the Legacy National Certification as part of our Ground Search and Rescue - National Accreditation and Certification Pilot (GSAR-NACP). Congratulations to Harry Blackmore for his undivided dedication to service and training as a...

Searcher Training Coursework for members of the Innu Nation

We are proud to share coursework provided by the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association (NLSARA) who have worked hard to offer Searcher training this Fall for members of the Sheshatshiu and Natuashish, Innu Nation communities alongside Royal Canadian...

Revitalization to Enhance All Hazards Response Project

The Search and Rescue Association of Alberta hosted SARVAC at its quarterly Stakeholder Committee meeting on September 29th in support of the objectives of the "Revitalization to Enhance All Hazards Response Project." Key members of Alberta's SAR community were also...

Join Our

Newsletter

 

Every year, Ground Search and Rescue volunteers put themselves on the line to help those in need.
Sign up to get stories, updates, and ways you can support their lifesaving work.