News

Strengthening Canada’s Emergency Preparedness at Ready 2026

Earlier this week in Ottawa, SARVAC was pleased to participate in the Ready 2026 Conference, hosted by the Canadian Red Cross. We were represented in person by Lawrence Conway, Humanitarian Workforce (HWF) Program Director, with President Janelle Coultes joining...

For MIST/NIST & Indigenous Unit Leads: Deepening Leadership Knowledge.

For Mission Incident Support Team (MIST)/ National Incident Support Team (NIST) & Indigenous Unit Leads: Additional Training Opportunity Optional training and reference materials are available to support MIST/NIST members and Indigenous Unit Leads (IUL). While...

Alberta Regional Engagement Session Recap!

Earlier this week, representatives from Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, several Alberta First Nations, SARVAC, and Holistic Emergency Preparedness gathered in Edmonton — on the traditional territory of First Nations and Métis, and covered under Treaty 6  —...

Role-Specific & Leadership Resources

📚 Role-Specific & Leadership Resources As part of SARVAC’s Indigenous Awareness Campaign, we’re offering leadership-level resources to strengthen cultural competency and support respectful, community-centered HWF deployments. This awareness also supports local...

Cultural Awareness Strengthens Search and Rescue Response

Cultural Awareness Strengthens Search and Rescue Response November 2–8 marks Treaties Recognition Week in Ontario— an opportunity for Ontarians, and Canadians more broadly, to deepen understanding and engagement with Indigenous peoples as part of the ongoing process...

SARVAC HWF: First Train the Trainer Workshop

This past weekend was exciting for the SARVAC Humanitarian Workforce (HWF) program and various GSAR responders across the country as the first SARVAC HWF Train the Trainer workshop was rolled out. The purpose of these workshops is to train champions within each...

Are you a Search and Rescue Volunteer in Canada?

Did you know that you can provide input into critical research on post-traumatic stress injuries for the SAR community that will help determine the next steps of what volunteers need in the way of mental health resources across Canada. If you are a SAR volunteer,...

CSA Z1620 and Z1625 Core Competency Draft Standards Update

CSA Z1620 and Z1625 Core Competency Draft Standards Update

Please be advised that the updated CSA Z1620 and Z1625 Core Competency and Curriculum Draft Standards have been posted for 60 day Public Review on CSA’s Public Review Website. These Standards provide core competency and training curriculum requirements for Ground...

NSS Now Accepting SARN NIF  Funding Proposals for 2024-2025

NSS Now Accepting SARN NIF Funding Proposals for 2024-2025

The National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) is NOW accepting funding proposals under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) for 2024-2025. Public Safety Canada invites eligible applicants to submit applications for projects that support the updated...

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...

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